Dorna Sports, the rights holders for
MotoGP, have made a proposal to the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme to include a Hungarian Grand Prix event on the 2009 calendar.
Hungary last played host to a motorcycle Grand Prix back in 1992, when Eddie Lawson took victory from fellow Americans Doug Chandler and Randy Mamola for Cagiva. That race was only the second event held in the country, with the first event having been held in 1990 – both of which were held at the Hungaroring near Budapest.
Although there were rumours that the venue would return to the calendar in 2004 in place of Brazil, the race in Rio de Janeiro went ahead as planned meaning Hungary remained off the MotoGP schedule.
However, an announcement was made in Budapest on Wednesday morning regarding the construction of the new Balatonring circuit in the East European country as well as its inclusion as on of the circuits on the calendar for 2009, with Dorno Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta amongst those present for the announcement.
Magyar Turizmus Zrt. has formed a subsidiary under 100 per cent ownership for promoting any possible MotoGP races at the new circuit, which will be operated by a company named Balatonring Zrt. That company will be controlled by World Wide Circuit Management and Magyar Turizmus Zrt in a 70/30 split.
MotoGP has a huge fanbase in Hungary following the success of Gabor Talmacsi in the 125cc class last season when he became the first ever Hungarian GP world champion. As a result, tens of thousands of Hungarian fans are expected to descend on Brno next month to watch Talmacsi in action.
With MotoGP keen to not expand its calendar, it remains to be which circuit may give way to allow the Hungarian race to take place.
