If everything goes according to plan, the most prestigious form of two-wheel racing, MotoGP, might come to India during the winter of 2023.
This would be a huge boost for the country’s motorsport scene, which has been relatively stagnant.
The master agreement between Dorna, the company that owns the commercial rights to MotoGP races, and Fairstreet Sports, a racing promotion company located in Noida, might be inked as soon as the following week.
Dorna MD On Wednesday, Carlos Ezpeleta and his son Carmelo Ezpeleta, who serves as CEO, will be in the nation’s capital, and it is anticipated that they will make a formal statement on the “Grand Prix of Bharat.”
The race will almost certainly take place at the Buddh International Circuit, which was formerly the site of the Formula One Indian Grand Prix but no longer hosts the event because of several financial, tax, and administrative obstacles.
After an agreement has been reached between the owner of the MotoGP rights and the promoters of the race, the circuit will not be homologated by the FIM until after that agreement has been signed.
In an interview with PTI, the Chief Operating Officer of Fairstreet Sports, Pushkar Nath, stated that the company had done their research in preparation for the organization of the high-profile race, taking into mind the issues that had arisen in Formula 1 nine years earlier.
The market for two-wheelers is enormous in India, making it the largest in the world. Bikes are something that unite people of all ages and backgrounds. It should be something that people strive to achieve. “The MotoGP race is one of the most watched athletic events,” Nath said in an interview with PTI.
“In preparation for the India round, we have taken all of the necessary safety measures. We have ensured that we have covered all bases in order to continue competing in India for an extended length of time. We are considering holding a winter round in India for the following year. The president of the Indian motorsports federation, Akbar Ebrahim, expressed his satisfaction with the new development.
“I had noted in our most recent AGM that discussions were taking place between both sides, and we have been kept informed about the status of those discussions. In addition to that, I have spoken with the organizers of the race. They are aware of what they are doing and what is required in order to successfully execute an event of this magnitude.
“I am crossing my fingers that the master agreement between Dorna and Fairstreet will be signed as quickly as possible so that we can then go on to the homologation of the circuit and the organization of the race. According to Ebrahim, the assistance of the government will be essential in this situation.
A weekend of MotoGP competition, which also includes races in the junior classes Moto 2 and Moto 3, requires the participation of approximately 5000 people. Not only will the event place Uttar Pradesh on the map of the world, but it is also anticipated to increase tourism there.
According to Nath, the race would not be feasible without the assistance of the government, and he expressed his gratitude to both the state and the center for their roles in bringing the competition to India.
“It is the equivalent of staging the Commonwealth Games with 5,000 people focusing on the race itself while leaving the fans and everyone else out of the equation. Both the state and the central governments run by the BJP have been of great assistance.
They also wish to improve India’s standing as a tourist destination. People will be traveling from Europe and other parts of the world to attend, and it will be broadcast live in around 200 countries,” explained Nath.
Every year, Fairstreet Sports will be responsible for paying Dorna a number of millions of dollars for the race. Although the Jaypee Group found that hosting Formula 1 was unsustainable, Nath claims that his company has taken into account the enormous costs that are associated with the event.
He stated that the most difficult task would not be preparing the racing track but rather putting together the necessary infrastructure for the race.
In addition to taxation, customs clearance surfaced as a significant issue during the Formula 1 days, and the parties concerned can’t afford to make the same mistakes on this front a second time.
Vicky Chandhok, a former president of the FMSCI who served as president at the time that Formula 1 was held in India, stated that the smooth arrival of the equipment is essential to the success of the event.
“There must not be any disruption caused by the delivery of the equipment. If this occurs, news will spread that India has undergone transformations and that it is now possible to have races here; this may also pave the way for the return of Formula 1 to the country. At the end of the day, it is a tremendously large market. It’s also possible that NASCAR will join.
“This is not the first time that we have played host to the Asian Road Racing Championship. Therefore, the MotoGP competition should be the next stage,” he continued.
In addition, the all-electric Formula E race is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad in the month of February next year. If all goes according to plan, Indian motorsport will at last have what it has been patiently waiting for.
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