MotoGP confirms Japan on schedule until 2030

MotoGP has agreed a contract extension that retains the Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix until 2030.

Contract:

• Mobility Resort Motegi will host MotoGP for another five years
• MotoGP confirms the 2026 calendar is ‘soon to be revealed’

Context:

MotoGP has been consistently offering contract extensions to races in its European heartland, so this marks the first that breaks that trend. Motegi is also the first of these which did not have a confirmed race next season, as all previously announced five-year extensions have been until 2031, rather than 2030.

Motegi has hosted MotoGP since 2004, ignoring the cancelled races in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the series first raced in Japan back in 1963. Japan is a very important market for MotoGP, especially with Honda heavily involved. The manufacturer may not be enjoying its previous dominance, but Johann Zarco delivered its first victory since 2023 earlier this season.

Comment:

“Japan is important for MotoGP,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, chief executive of MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports.

“Motegi always puts on a fantastic show and is a point of reference on the calendar for its event organisation. Japanese MotoGP fans are incredibly knowledgeable and we’re very happy to confirm we’ll race with them until 2030.”

Coming next:

This year’s Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix takes place from 26th to 28th September.

Go deeper:

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