India will host a race for the MotoGP for the first time ever in 2023, with the organisation setting provisional dates from September 22 to 24.

In a surprise move that nobody expected, the premier two-wheeler Grand Prix competition said that the race will take place at the Buddh International Circuit. The race track in the Greater Noida area in Uttar Pradesh had previously hosted the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix from 2011 until 2013. 

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India is home to over 200 million motorcycles, which make up 75% of the total number of vehicles on the road, according to a BBC report. 

Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of Dorna Sports, which holds the rights to the racing event said that his organisation was excited to bring the sport to India. He added that by virtue of the country being a key market for motorcycles it was also, “by extension, for MotoGP” as well. 

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Here’s all you need to know about the announcement.

MotoGP in Saudi Arabia

Dorna Sports said earlier in September this year that MotoGP would be coming to Saudi Arabia and the race would be happening on a newly-built multi-purpose track. However it did not specify where. Ezpeleta had said at the time that their researched showed “80% of Saudi fans wanting to see more in their country.”

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Buddh International Circuit

The racing circuit is situated in the National Capital Region, in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It was opened officially in 2011. 

In fact, talks about having an Indian Grand Prix had begun as far back as 2007, when the Indian Olympic Association met with the then-chief executive of the Formula One Group, Bernie Ecclestone. Work on the track began in 2007, with issues cropping up in 2009 after the financial crisis. It was supposed to open in time for the 2010 Formula One Season but was pushed back by a year.

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Eventually, the first Indian Grand Prix was held in 2011 with Sebastian Vettel winning the pole position. The crcuit closed in 2013 following tax dispute with the then Uttar pradesh government.