Texas MotoGP round in doubt?

THE MotoGP round planned to take place at the new circuit in Austin, Texas is appears to be in doubt again after problems with the contract.

In April last year a deal was announced for MotoGP to visit the new Circuit of the Americas for 10-years after 2013. The agreement followed on from the announcement that Formula One will debut the circuit in a world championship race in 2012.

However, both deals were placed in doubt through contractual disputes and the departure of the original promoter Tavo Hellmund - F1 reached a new agreement with the circuit owners, but new rights to host MotoGP have yet to be agreed.

1993 500GP champion Kevin Schwantz played a part in obtaining the rights for the MotoGP event in his home state under his company 3FourTexas MGP, as well as advising on the circuit's design.

According to Austin newspaper The Statesman, Scwantz has sent a letter to the circuit president, Steve Sexton asking him to secure the rights.

In the letter Schwantz wrote: “I urge you one final time to contact Mr. (Tavo) Hellmund about obtaining the rights to host a MotoGP race in Texas, after which I would be glad to open discussions with you as the new promoter. If you have not obtained such rights from Full Throttle, then unfortunately Circuit of the Americas will not be included as a round of the FIM Grand Prix Road Racing World Championship.”

In an email response to The Statesman, Sexton said: "We are in discussions with several major race series who have reached out to us, and our confidence is high that three to five major world-class events, including a two-wheel championship, will be on the 2013 schedule — and that these races will take place under terms favorable to the Circuit and the series owners.”