A surprise return, a postponed premiere and the excitement of 44 times a season! MotoGP releases calendar for 2024 season with record number of races

22 companies, 44 races! That’s how packed next season will be for the 76th edition of the MotoGP, which released its calendar on Wednesday morning with a record number of grand prix. Alongside the return of the VC of Aragon, it will make a second attempt to present Kazakhstan, this time in June. Qatar returns as the opening race of the season, which traditionally concludes in Valencia, Spain.

A few days after the first ever Indian Grand Prix and in preparation for the races in Japan, MotoGP published the roster of all the grand prix events that will take place during the upcoming season. An unprecedented 22 grand prix await the entire paddock spread over eight months with minimal rest.

MotoGP attempted a record number of races earlier this year. A total of 21 events were planned, including a brand new grand prix in Kazakhstan.

However, this exotic destination was dropped from this year’s calendar due to the incomplete homologation of the Sokol circuit and logistical difficulties caused by the war in Ukraine.

76. the World Road Motorcycle Championship will start on the second weekend of March in Qatar. The desert country is returning to its traditional venue after extensive renovations to the local circuit caused this year’s race to be postponed until November.

Drivers will get their first taste of Europe two weeks later when it takes place in Portimao, Portugal. Next up is a move to the American continent, with Argentina up first, after which the MotoGP circus will visit the United States.

The European season kicks off at the end of April with the first of four races in Spain, at the Jerez circuit. The second visit to this country will not be long in coming.

After a jump to Le Mans in France, the riders will take to the race track in Montmeló, Catalonia, near Barcelona. The eighth grand prix of the season has been assigned to Italy and the very popular Mugello circuit.

Kazakhstan will attempt a postponed debut on 16 June, with the Netherlands and Germany closing the first half of the season. After a four-week summer break, the wheels of the world’s fastest motorcycles will once again turn at Silverstone in the UK. The trio of Austria, returnee Aragon and San Marino will then conclude the regular European season.

The aforementioned Aragon did not feature on this year’s calendar as the Iberian Peninsula was scheduled to be rotated starting this year. However, it seems that this rotation is no longer envisaged and Spanish promoter Dorna would like to keep all the big prizes in their country.

The Asian Tour will be set in motion again like this year by the VC of India, which will kick off a gruelling series of six grand prix in seven weeks.

After India, the first tripleheader will see big prizes in Indonesia and Japan. From the land of the rising sun, the pilots and all staff will move to Australia, followed in quick succession by Thailand and Malaysia.

The record-breaking season will conclude as usual in Valencia, Spain and the Ricardo Tormo circuit. If any of the venues were to drop out for any number of reasons, Hungary and Balaton Park, which opened this year, would replace them.

Source: MotoGP