Austin is back on the MotoGP calendar. Today, the FIM announced that the Motegi round of MotoGP has been canceled, as travel to Japan is still very difficult, with the Circuit of the Americas being put in its place on October 3rd. The changes have obviously been made in response to the pandemic, and as Covid-19 continues to be a problem around the world, more changes are likely.
Currently, MotoGP is set to go to Thailand two weeks after Austin, on October 17th, the first of a triple header at Buriram, then Phillip Island in Australia, and then the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. However, travel restrictions are still in place for Phillip Island, and are unlikely to be lifted in time for the race to take place. And the current Covid-19 situation in Thailand is also cause for concern. Sepang are also believed to be willing to host a race only if they can have at least 70% fan capacity at the track.
At the moment, the backup plan for Phillip Island not taking place is for there to be a double-header at Valencia to replace it. The season would end at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo with two races on consecutive weekends. There has also been talk of two races on back-to-back weekends at the Circuit of the Americas if Thailand has to be canceled.
All that is still unconfirmed, however. For the moment, MotoGP has a plan for the second half of the season. But like all plans during the pandemic, it is subject to change up to the last moment.
Here is the current calendar update as it stands:
| Date | Grand prix | Circuit |
| 28 March | Qatar* | Losail International Circuit |
| 4 April | Qatar* | Losail International Circuit |
| 18 April | Portugal | Algarve International Circuit |
| 02 May | Spain | Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto |
| 16 May | France | Le Mans |
| 30 May | Italy | Autodromo del Mugello |
| 06 June | Catalunya | Barcelona - Catalunya |
| 20 June | Germany | Sachsenring |
| 27 June | Netherlands | TT Circuit Assen |
| 8 August | Styria | Red Bull Ring-Spielberg |
| 15 August | Austria | Red Bull Ring-Spielberg |
| 29 August | Great Britain | Silverstone |
| 12 September | Aragón | MotorLand Aragón |
| 19 September | San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini | Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli |
| 03 October | Americas | Circuit of the Americas |
| 17 October | Thailand | Chang International Circuit |
| 24 October | Australia | Philip Island |
| 31 October | Malaysia | Sepang International Circuit |
| 14 November | Comunitat Valenciana | Comunitat Valenciana-Ricardo Tormo |
Date
| Postponed Grands Prix to be rescheduled subject to the pandemic: | |
| Grand prix | Circuit |
| República Argentina | Termas de Río Hondo |
| Reserve Grand Prix Venues: | |
| Indonesia** | Mandalika International Street Circuit |
* Evening Race
** Subject to Homologation
There will be a maximum of 20 events in the 2021 season. All dates, events and the attendance of spectators are subject to the evolution of the pandemic and the approval of the corresponding Governments and authorities.
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Comments
Germany, Netherlands reversed
I saw that...
I saw that too.
so happy
Austin is back! I can't wait!
At least COTA…
... will be open to full capacity (but only 50,000 probably bother to show up).
See You At COTA
Can't wait for Austin this fall. Maybe consecutive weekends? Can you imagine? See ya there!
COTA Motomatters Dinner?
Is it confirmed that spectators are at COTA? Can't imagine otherwise. I am thinking of going, curious who here will be there. We could do a pre and/or post race get together for food, drinks and connecting. I hear Austin is a fun town!
Will David, Neil, Adam or Steve be there this go? Readers buy you dinner? (Neil has to be going these days, right? Good for you with your Moto2/Moto3 gig!).
P.S. news - Morbidelli out at Assen, knee injury trouble still from that training accident a bit ago. GERLOFF replacement!
Yup
You know Texas will allow spectators. Esp if someone smart says not to. Get-together would be great! Where tix? Turn 15? I haven't been to COTA so I don't know what's best
Pits grandstand
I did pit straight for shade reasons, you could see a few other bits of track from the upper tier, especially if you take binoculars.
Facilities in there were really good and Kevin Schwantz did a Q&A in the lounge area.
Pit Straight
Sounds good. Tix on sale next month. Can't wait to see you all from here and to see the greatest racing in the world.
T15
t15 is definitely better view from a racing perspective, but no cover and facilities are a bit more basic. You pays your money, you takes your choice.
Shade
Shade for the shady. Too old for that all-day full sun anymore. And glad of it. LOL
I hear ya
Montmelo 2017 I was in one of the stands at the end of the pit straight and on Saturday it was ROASTING hot. We were in the back row so had a metal railing behind us, so for race day my dad bought a parasol and some cable ties from a local shop. Worked like a charm - but even I prefer my comfort these days and I'm only in my 30s.
30's
Just turned 64 here but I feel like I'm in my 30's. Unsolicited advice: stay in shape and wear ear protection. I did the former, wish I had done the latter. Looking forward to COTA in Octobah. (I'm from Maine LOL.) Cheers!
Fingers crossed
If I can make it over from where I live, just down the road from Silverstone, it'll be lovely to meet you!
Snarky. Perhaps you should
Snarky. Perhaps you should stay away then?
I do general admission.
Like to watch from hill top of reverse corkscrew at end of esses. So when y'all come down for drinks let me know :)
I’ll be there.
First round is on me.
I'm considering it
Did Austin in 2018 and loved it. Was booked to go again in 2020 before Covid happened.
Will wait and see how much of a ballache it's going to be to get in and out of the US first, plus what I will or won't have to do when I get back.
Annoyingly, the really good value Norwegian flights from Gatwick direct to Austin are no longer running...
Not surprised
That airline was so bad at keeping to a timetable that it became the best value airline in the world. I had a free trip to NYC out of them 2 or 3 years ago, through them having to compensate me for cancelling.
It's a shame
When I did COTA in 2018, it was £1100 return direct from Gatwick in a premium economy that was as good as business. Not the most reliable airline in the world as you say, but that was a bargain IMO.
COTA
I'm planning on being at COTA. Should be fun. Also, I'm excited to see how Garrett Gerloff does this weekend. Seems like the team really liked him and he did well when he filled in for Rossi on a Friday last season.
AUS
Perhaps ironically AUS is the airport code for Austin. SW has some nice nonstops from here in the bay area, I'll book when the race looks more certain. COTA is not my favorite track, but I really enjoy Austin, and no way will I pass up live motogp racing!
Damn!
Had COTA booked for 2020 and also Phillip Island and they fell through. Now COTA looks like happening in 2021 and we in Australia can't travel and Phillip Island is also looking unlikely. I guess that is the price for keeping Australia reasonably safe from the pandemic.
Fingers crossed for the Island...
My girl is hassling me to take her to PI for MotoGP, but it's 2000km from us - planning/booking travel within Australia is kind of risky atm. We managed a return trip from QLD to VIC back in May, returning one day before border/quarrantine restrictions came in for a Covid outbreak; can't see us being that lucky again. Haven't been to PI since a track day in 2005.
Phillip island 2021
Sadly I think that Phillip island 2021 may not go ahead. Melbourne and the state of Victoria is going better. Sydney and New South Wales having some big problems with Covid right now. Major restrictions imposed on greater Sydney.
Luckily for me I'm well outside Sydney. In the border bubble so I'm allowed to travel to Phillip island if it happens.
I'm not booking any tickets or flights at the moment. Six weeks until my second jab. By then the Gp summer break will be over. We will wait and see what happens.
What is happening with Mandalika? Any news? Still "subject to homologation".
What about Finland's Kimiring? Should be up and running. Just fine tuning the last little details. I guess they will be fully ready when the motorcycle grand prix circus comes visiting.
Have fun in Texas compadres!
thanks Apical
My dream a few months ago was that WSBK and motogp would race at PI a week apart. I would blow the budget and get a 10 day Airbnb in Cowes, eat at Pino's...still hoping.
That would be something!
In 1996 we had 500GP at Eastern Creek, followed one week later by WSB at Philip Island... thousands of riders heading south through the Australian Alps in between races, quite an experience.
Austin?
Hmm ... I live just down the road from Laguna Seca but since that's history now, maybe I should go to COTA. I don't think I've seen a MotoGP race since VR46 was on a red bike.
I haven't since being at your
I haven't since being at your track, both on a race bike myself then watching Hayden get his first tear filled glory for our return to Laguna 2005.
Time flew! COTA is a long drive, but cheap as heck quick flight from San Jose. There could be a 4 person Motomatters group sharing a car and two rooms in Austin...?
4 more and we have a Moto3 drafting pack. Happy to coordinate. Then, the Pod guys might join us for dinner. Apical? Brian? One more?? Backmarker Travel for the black horse win.
Share
Yup, count me in for a room. I will be driving over from FL so no need for rental car.
Phillip Island
The latest news of the revised calendar does not bode well for us Aussies.Moving Burriram to the week before our GP means that the paddock cannot complete the 14 day quarrantine that is mandatory for all incoming visitors (and citizens) to Australia.To receive an exemption would be the only hope to avoid the 14 day rule,and the chances of that happening are next to nil.Another year without any international racing.Bummer.
Really ? Gosh
Really ? Gosh
“It would be great for me that Valentino Rossi can compete in the next few years as a pilot of our Aramco Racing Team VR46 together with his brother Luca Marini who already competes this year"
Make Mine a Double...
...but not at Valencia! Two 'races' there would not be a fitting end to the season. If the circus end in Spain and doesn't want to go too far, back to Jerez for the final finale please!