MotoGP has cancelled the Argentina Grand Prix at Termas de Río Hondo ahead of the 2024 season.
Confirmed:
- Government spending cuts mean race can no longer go ahead this season
- The event will not be replaced on the 2024 schedule
Context:
Javier Milei, the new president of Argentina, has taken a drastic approach to fixing the country’s economic woes, with huge spending cuts across the board. The race at Termas de Río Hondo is heavily subsidised by the government, so these cuts ruled out any possibility of the event going ahead.
Despite MotoGP naming Balaton Park in Hungary as a reserve circuit for this season, series executives have opted against a replacement. With Argentina originally scheduled back-to-back with MotoGP’s race at the Circuit of The Americas, the logistics of travelling between Hungary and the US were likely too difficult.
Comment:
A MotoGP statement read: ‘Due to the current circumstances in Argentina, the promoter of the event has communicated that it is currently unable to guarantee the services required for the Grand Prix to take place in 2024 at MotoGP standards.
‘This event will not be replaced on the 2024 calendar. MotoGP hopes to return to race at Termas de Rio Hondo in 2025.’
Coming next:
The revised 21-race 2024 season gets underway at Losail International Circuit in Qatar on 10th March.