MotoGP has announced that the Indian Grand Prix, originally set to return in 2025, has been pushed back to 2026 due to what it referred to as "operational reasons."
Earlier reports indicated that MotoGP would not be returning to India next year, with the event at the Buddh International Circuit now listed as a reserve event for the 2025 season.
Sources suggest that local authorities were unable to secure the financial backing required to organize the race, which was originally scheduled for March 2025.
In an official release, Dorna Sports, MotoGP's organizer, mentioned that "operational circumstances" led to the postponement of the event from its planned early 2025 date. The statement further explained that, with no available slots towards the end of the 2025 season, the Indian GP would now be held in the early months of 2026.
This announcement comes after MotoGP signed a new three-year contract with the state government of Uttar Pradesh last month to bring the race back to India. This agreement followed the cancellation of the 2024 Indian GP.
The new contract replaced the previous promoter, Fairstreet Sports, with Invest UP—Uttar Pradesh’s investment arm—issuing a tender to find a new organizer for the race. However, with the 2025 calendar nearing completion, it seems that no deal could be finalized in time for the planned March event.
India hosted its first MotoGP race in September 2023 at the Buddh International Circuit, a slightly altered version of the track that previously hosted Formula 1 from 2011 to 2013. Those F1 events were organized by the circuit's owner, the Jaypee Group, which has since faced significant financial challenges, with several of its subsidiaries involved in insolvency proceedings.
Portugal Secures MotoGP Until 2026
In a separate announcement, MotoGP confirmed that Portugal's Algarve International Circuit in Portimão will continue to host the series through 2026, following a new two-year contract.
The future of the Portuguese Grand Prix had been uncertain following the addition of Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit to the 2025 calendar. Initially, there were concerns that the return of the Hungarian GP, absent from MotoGP since 1992, could result in Portugal being dropped from the schedule. However, the new contract ensures Portugal's continued presence on the MotoGP calendar for the next two seasons.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "We're delighted to confirm that Portugal will remain part of the MotoGP calendar for at least two more years. The Algarve circuit has become a standout venue for fans and riders alike. Each year, the event improves, and we take pride in the positive economic, sporting, and social impact it brings to the region. We look forward to seeing everyone in Portugal in 2025 and 2026."