Updated: 2021 MotoGP calendar – Japan cancelled, USA added | GRR

Update: Japanese GP cancelled, America confirmed

Updated 18:00 Wednesday 23^rd June 2021. Sporting calendars have faced countless disruptions and delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the latest fixture to fall foul is the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, penned for 3^rd October, which has been cancelled due to travel complications and logistical restrictions.

While sad news for Japanese fans, those on the other side of the Pacific can rejoice, after the FIM announced a new date for the previously postponed Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, which will now take place on the 3^rd October 2021.

The MotoGP circus will then move on to Thailand’s Chang International Circuit, where the Thai GP will take place a week later than previously scheduled, on 17^th October. The season will then wind down with races in Australia, Malaysia and Spain.

A race in Japan will return next year, promises Dorna CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta: “The organisational and logistical requirements to execute a MotoGP event meant that June was the deadline to define the second half of the 2021 calendar,” he said. “MobilityLand needed to confirm the viability of the Japanese Grand Prix but since they could not confirm it by the current date, we must sadly take the decision to return to Motegi in 2022.

“Japan is an incredibly important country for the FIM MotoGP World Championship, with three Japanese manufacturers in the premier class making it a true cornerstone of the sport. We would like to thank everyone at MobilityLand for making the Japanese Grand Prix such an incredible event since the very first event in 1992.”

MotoGP 2021 calendar

Update: Styrian GP added, Finnish GP cancelled

Updated 13:15 Friday 14^th May 2021. The 2021 Grand Prix of Finland, which was scheduled for 11^th July, has been cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic complications around travel restrictions to new arrivals to Finland. To make up for the missing race an additional event has been added in Austria, the Styrian GP. A possible race in Indonesia remains in reserve.

As part of the same announcement the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have announced a five-year deal with organisers in Finland which will see a race at the KymiRing from 2022–2026.

Update: MotoGP 2021 season starts with Doha double header

Updated 18:00 Friday 22^nd January. Updates from the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have revealed that Losail International Circuit will now host a double header to kick off the 2021 MotoGP season, retaining the planned Qatar Grand Prix on the 26^th-28^th of March, following it up with the Grand Prix of Doha, from the 2^nd-4^th of April.

Instead of the planned Argentinian and American GPs, which have been postponed until the end of the year, the action will then head to Europe, with Portugal’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve welcoming riders from the 16^th-18^th of April for the third round of the year. The season will then get back on track (excuse the pun) at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, before making its way through Europe’s finest race circuits – France, Italy, Catalunya, Germany, Netherlands, Finland (subject to homologation), Austria, Great Britain, Aragon and San Marino.

October and November are reserved for the flyaway races, with the Twin Ring Motegi hosting the Japanese GP on the third of the month, followed by Thailand, Australia and Malaysia. 

While Valencia was due to hold the season finale from the 12^th-14^th November, expect to see the season drag out beyond this, as with the 2020 edition. Hopefully by then the Americas will be in a better place to host their respective GPs, however Indonesia’s Mandalika International Street Circuit has been designated a reserve venue, subject to homologation.

What are the 2021 MotoGP reserve tracks?

As there were in 2020 there will be reserve tracks for the 2021 MotoGP season. They are:

• Portugal – Portimao
• Indonesia – Mandalika International Street Circuit (subject to homologation)
• Russia – Igora Driver Circuit

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.