Argentina loses place on 2013 MotoGP calendar

Spanish government changes Repsol travel advice two days too late to save new 2013 MotoGP event in Argentina.

23 Nov 2012

Repsol Honda flags, Italian MotoGP 2012
© Gold and Goose

MotoGP will not return to Argentina next year after the April 14 'To Be Confirmed' place being held open for the event was dropped from the updated schedule.

Last December a three-year deal was announced for the Termas de R?o Hondo circuit to host an Argentinian MotoGP from 2013.

However on June 20th, 2012, the Spanish government advised against travel to Argentina for any teams or riders sponsored by Repsol due to "safety reasons", following a dispute between the company and the Argentinean government.

With the travel warning still in place on November 18, the deadline for Dorna to officially propose the 2013 MotoGP calendar to the FIM, the event has been postponed until 2014.

But just two days later, on November 20, the Spanish government informed Dorna that its advice had changed and the travel warning withdrawn!

However "the time for the calendar presentation had already expired and therefore, there was no possibility to include a new MotoGP event," read a statement from Dorna.

"Anyhow, Dorna Sports commits itself to include Gran Premio de la Rep?blica Argentina on the 2014 Calendar and onwards, to be approved by FIM subject to the homologation of the track, which presumably shall take place within the first quarter of 2013."

The last Argentinian motorcycle grand prix was held in 1999 and MotoGP has been absent from South America since the last of the Brazilian rounds in 2004.

As a result of Argentina's postponement, the opening 2013 event in Qatar will be held a week later than previously listed, in order to reduce the gap before what is now the second round of the season at Austin, Texas.

The 2013 calendar is thus 18 rounds, the same as this season, with the new Austin event replacing Estoril. Jerez remains Subject to Contract.

Updated 2013 MotoGP calendar:

Round 1:7 April Qatar* LosailRound 2: 21 April Americas AustinRound 3: 5 May Spain (STC) JerezRound 4: 19 May France Le MansRound 5: 2 June Italy MugelloRound 6: 16 June Catalunya CatalunyaRound 7: 29 June Netherlands** AssenRound 8: 7 July Germany SachsenringRound 9: 21st July United States***Laguna SecaRound 10: 18 August Indianapolis IndianapolisRound 11: 25 August Czech Republic BrnoRound 12:1 September Great Britain SilverstoneRound 13:15 September San Marino MisanoRound 14:29 September Aragon AragonRound 15:13 October Malaysia SepangRound 16: 20 October Australia Phillip IslandRound 17:27 October Japan MotegiRound 18:10 November Valencia Valencia