Dorna Sports and Saudi Motorsport Company to host MotoGP in Saudi Arabia

September 6, 2022

Dorna Sports and Saudi Motorsport Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to host the world’s premier motorcycle racing series - MotoGP™- in Saudi Arabia.

The signing was conducted at the San Marino Grand Prix by HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company and by Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Chief Executive.

The FIM MotoGP™ World Championship is watched by more than 800 million people, broadcasting live to more than 200 countries around the world. The addition of Saudi Arabia to the MotoGP™ calendar on an annual basis will see the sport expanding further into the Middle East, with Qatar currently hosting the only round in the region.

The partnership initiative between Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) and Dorna will also see the establishment of a new talent development program for young Saudi riders, designed to increase awareness of and accessibility to the sport in the Kingdom. This Road to MotoGP™ Program will provide young racing talent in Saudi Arabia with pathway opportunities to compete at the highest levels of the sport, with a clear aim of developing Saudi MotoGP™ champions of the future. This aligns with Dorna’s ongoing commitment to young rider development all over the world, using its platforms and championships to launch new riders’ careers and develop pathways to racing in MotoGP™.

Plans to bring MotoGP™ to Saudi Arabia follow the successful hosting of other major global motorsports series in the Kingdom over the past few years, including the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (since 2021), the Formula E Diriyah ePrix (since 2018), the world-renowned Dakar Rally (since 2020) and the revolutionary Extreme E series (since 2021).

HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal was enthusiastic about the signing which he noted “clearly outlines our shared goal of bringing MotoGP™ to Saudi Arabia. It makes perfect sense to add the world’s greatest motorcycle racing series to our growing list of world-class racing events. We look forward to working with Dorna to deliver on our shared commitment to bring the pinnacle of two-wheeled racing to Saudi Arabia and to continue to provide more opportunities and initiatives to enrich the lives of all our residents."

Carmelo Ezpeleta Chief Executive of Dorna Sports adds "as the leading global championship for two-wheel circuit racing, we are thrilled at this opportunity for MotoGP™ to expand its reach within the Middle East by adding an annual Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia. The region is a key market for motorsport and the demand in the Kingdom for events of this kind is growing with research showing that 80% of Saudi fans wanting to see more in their country. In the past few years, Saudi Arabia has shown its ability to stage major global motorsports events to the highest standards. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding codifies our shared intention to explore this opportunity further. We are confident that we will find an exciting and welcoming new home in the Kingdom and we look forward to further collaboration with the Saudi Motorsport Company to deliver on this joint ambition together."

Image: Dorna Chief Executive Carmelo Ezpeleta (L) with HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC).

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