Hungary to join the MotoGP World Championship calendar from 2023

Dorna have announced that Hungary will be joining the MotoGP calendar in 2023. A presentation in Budapest laid out the foundations of a new circuit that will commence construction in the latter half of 2021.
Hungary to join the MotoGP World Championship calendar from 2023

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta met CEO of Kalet-Magyarország Versenypálya Kft Jozsef Pacza, Hungarian Minister of National Innovation and Technology László Palkovics, delegates of the Hungarian Goverment, and local motorcycle star Gabor Talmacsi in Budapest today to announce the return of Hungary on the MotoGP calendar. 

The last Grand Prix staged in Hungary was at the famous Hungaroring in 1992. But plans to build a new circuit in Debrecen (Hungary's second largest city), will begin as early as this year.  

Speaking about the agreement to host a Hungarian Grand Prix in 2023, Ezpeleta said: "Finally this is coming true, we’re very happy because in Hungary there is a lot of passion for the sport. Gabor was World Champion and with this project many more Hungarian people will start coming into our Talent Cups and in our paddock.

"Our wish is to bring the best for the circuit – spectators, economic impact, give coverage of this region around the world on TV – but also to have the possibility of more Hungarian riders in future through the Road to MotoGP. 

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"From the beginning we’ve been in contact with the people creating the project, and I was in the region two years ago. What is happening there is very special. The FIM is following the works for homologation, and I think the circuit will be one of the best in the world."

Talmacsi was a grand prix rider for ten years, and can't wait for the sport to return to his homeland. Talmacsi said: "It’s very emotional for me, I’m very proud to be here.

"My life story is basically that I represented my country as a rider for 10 years in MotoGP and now, in a different position I represent Hungary as a motorsport expert and I always try to give back, to support motorsport projects like this one.

"I’m proud to be part of the project, I love motorbikes, I love racing and I always follow the sport even when I’m not racing. It’s a great moment for us to be here and that the government has signed the contract with Dorna.

"The location near to Debrecen is very important for the area, and the countries around Hungary are close – Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, so fans can easily get there in future, and that’s also great for the region."

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