Will the Kazakhstan Grand Prix (June 14-16) really take place in 2024? Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta comments on the rumors of another cancellation
With the Grand Prix of Argentina, the 2024 MotoGP race calendar had already shrunk by one race weekend before the start of the season. The reason: spending cuts by the new President Javier Milei. This means that the calendar currently still includes 21 events, but could lose another one
There are also rumors about the cancellation of the Kazakhstan Grand Prix, which was supposed to celebrate its premiere in 2023. The Grand Prix already had to be canceled a year ago because the Sokol International Racetrack was not ready.
Is the same fate looming for the 2024 season? In an interview with the Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta reassures: “From a distance, there is no problem. We are in communication. The track has been ready since July and some parts of the facilities are still missing.”
“The Kazakh organization will come to the Qatar Grand Prix with a large number of people because there will be a lot of synergy between them on the issue of track helpers. It’s all on a good path.”
According to the Dorna CEO, the Grand Prix is not currently in danger. It is therefore all the more surprising that MotoGP is still nowhere to be found on the circuit’s official website.
The Balaton Park Circuit was mentioned as a potential replacement when the calendar was announced – subject to the contract and homologation. This is because a MotoGP guest appearance in Hungary is not actually planned until next year’s season.
“As far as Balaton is concerned, we are not considering it at the moment,” says Ezpeleta. “They have not been able to do the necessary work to be homologated for MotoGP. So no, if a Grand Prix that is in limbo were to be canceled, it would remain at 20 Grands Prix.”
And India? MotoGP was held there for the first time last year, with some visa problems in advance and extreme heat during the races. But Ezpeleta is hopeful that things will run more smoothly this year.
“The Indian Grand Prix was a big effort, but it went well and we believe that this year will be the year of consolidation. India is a very important country for the motorcycling world,” concludes the Dorna CEO.
