The MotoGP visit to Motegi in 2020 had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all Pacific flyaways and races in America also being canceled due to the virus situation.
The 2021 calendar postponed races in the US and Argentina to the latter part of the year initially on indefinite dates, while it was hoped that MotoGP could hold their usual Pacific hike through Japan, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia. However, due to the ongoing travel restrictions, MotoGP has made the decision to cancel the Japanese GP for the second year in a row.
Originally scheduled for the weekend of October 3rd, it will now be replaced by the returning US GP at the Texas Circuit of the Americas.
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Dorna Sports’ original idea was to have consecutive races at COTA, as was done in Qatar earlier this year and will take place in Austria in August. But Formula 1’s plans to hold a double race at COTA later in October have ruined those plans.
Austin’s admission has temporarily cut the Thai GP by one week to the 15th-17th. October postponed and forms a triple header with Australia and Malaysia
However, more calendar revisions are expected in the coming weeks, with a double title with Thailand and Malaysia being more likely than a triple title with Australia.
Due to strict border controls in Australia, the Phillip Island race is unlikely to take place this year, while Argentina is also in doubt – due to both COVID-19 and the fire that devastated the Termas de Rio Hondo pit complex earlier this year.
Should Thailand not be able to host a Grand Prix, a one-two at Sepang in October is a real possibility.
In order to hit its 19-race plan for 2021, it is now likely that MotoGP will return to a location where it has already raced this season before the scheduled finale in Valencia in mid-November.
The likely candidate is Portimao, which hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix in April – which replaced the postponed races in Austin, Argentina – and ended the 2020 season.
Revised calendar