MotoGP Replaces Kazakhstan GP With Second Misano Race
MotoGP has announced the replacement of its Kazakhstan GP with a second race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli will, for the third time in its history, run two MotoGP races in 2024, following the cancellation of the Kazakhstan Grand Prix.
Kazakhstan was supposed to hold its MotoGP race in 2023, but the Sokol International Circuit was not ready in time. The inaugural edition was then expected for 2024, but Central Asia experienced serious flooding back in May that forced the event to be postponed. When the Indian Grand Prix was cancelled earlier this year, Kazakhstan’s race was rescheduled to fill the gap created by India’s absence on 27-29 September. Now, however, the race has been cancelled again, as in 2023, owing to logistical issues presented by the continuing effects of the floods earlier this year, which “have rendered the event impossible to run,” according to a MotoGP statement.
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“The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports announce the cancellation of the Grand Prix of Kazakhstan,” the statement reads. “Operational and logistical issues arising from the earlier flooding across the region have rendered the event impossible to hold in 2024.
“Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli will instead host the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix from the 20th to the 22nd of September.
“MotoGP is excited to stage a second event at the iconic Adriatic venue, giving the passionate Italian fanbase a further opportunity to see the world’s most exciting sport in action.”
The Misano circuit hosted the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in both 2020 and 2021 as second events at the venue during the Covid period when the championship’s logistics had to consider the restrictions brought about by the pandemic and the variation in restrictions between different countries and regions. This, though, will be the first time, other than during the pandemic years, when a circuit has held two MotoGP events in a single season.
The Emilia-Romagna race takes the same date as had been previously marked down for first the Indian Grand Prix and then the Kazakhstan race, 20-22 September. However, this makes for increased awkwardness in scheduling, as the WorldSBK Italian Round is scheduled for that weekend at the Cremona Circuit, meaning that Dorna’s and motorcycle circuit racing’s two premier championships will both be racing in Italy on the same weekend, and will race in Italy three times in the space of two weeks, after the first Misano MotoGP round, the Grand Prix of San Marino and of the Rimini Riviera, is held on 6-8 September.
