With the 2014 season-opening race dates approaching fast, the MotoGP fraternity are set to welcome back an iconic sponsor and at the same time, drop one venue of its calendar.
Making a return as a sponsor to the Yamaha team is Spanish telco and digital TV giant Movistar. The brand made an official announcement recently following a series of rumours leading up to its deal with Yamaha. With the deal, Spanish media also report that Movistar are planning to broadcast MotoGP races in Spain.
While the fraternity welcomes a new sponsor, it also looses one venue from its original 19-race calendar. The 2014 season was set to become the sport’s largest ever schedule with 19 races, but organisers have recently updated the plan, dropping the Brazillian round that was originally scheduled for September 28 in Brazil’s capital of Brasilia. The decade-long absence of Brazil from the sport’s calendar is set to continue for much longer.
As a result of Brazil being off the schedule, the 2014 MotoGP calendar returns back to its usual 18-race plan. It also means that the Aragon Grand Prix race will be staged a week earlier than its intended date. The Aragon race will be held on September 28, two weeks apart from the San Marino Grand Prix that is scheduled before it.
Here is how MotoGP’s 2014 calendar will look like for now:
23rd March Qatar, Losail International Circuit (Evening race)
13th April Americas, Circuit of the Americas
27th April Argentina, Autódromo Termas de Rio Hondo
4th May Spain, Circuito de Jerez – Subject to contract
18th May France, Le Mans Circuit
1st June Italy, Mugello Circuit
15th June Catalunya, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
28th June Netherlands, TT Assen (Saturday race)
13th July Germany, Sachsenring
10th August Indianapolis GP, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
17th August Czech Republic, Automotodrom Brno
31st August Great Britain, Silverstone Circuit
14th September San Marino & Riviera di Rimini, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
28th September Aragón, MotorLand Aragón
12th October Malaysia, Sepang International Circuit
19th October Japan, Twin Ring Motegi
26th October Australia, Phillip Island
9th November Valencia, Ricardo Tormo-Valencia
Source: MotoGP via Visordown, BBC Sport and Asphaltandrubber
Image: MotoGP.com
