MotoGP’s options if Brno or KymiRing drop off 2020 calendar
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Following the announcement of the provisional 2020 MotoGP race calendar, the Czech Republic round at Brno and the Finnish round at the new KymiRing both remain unconfirmed leaving the door open for a replacement round with Portimao ready to step in.Brno’s current MotoGP race deal is set to expire in 2020 and the Czech Republic round was included on next year’s calendar subject to contract confirmation.During this year’s round, a number of MotoGP riders requested the circuit be resurfaced in time for 2020 – having last undergone a complete resurfacing back in 2008 – while the financial strains of hosting a Grand Prix have frequently been a stumbling block for the Czech Republic track.Meanwhile the new Finnish round remains subject to FIM circuit homologation and following the recent test at KymiRing key feedback and tweaks have been requested ahead of the 2020 race.If Brno or KymiRing disappear from the 2020 MotoGP calendar, both currently pencilled in on either side of the summer break, championship organisers could look for a suitable replacement.According to sources, Portimao holds an agreement with Dorna as the circuit on standby and ready to host MotoGP if either Brno or KymiRing were to drop off the race calendar.The Portuguese circuit, constructed in 2008, recently announced a three-year contract extension to host the World Superbike championship until at least 2022 while a round in Portugal hasn’t featured in MotoGP since 2012.The first Portuguese Grand Prix took place at Jarama, just north of the Spanish capital Madrid, before Estoril hosted the first round on home soil in 2000 at the start of a 13-year stint.Consequently, Portimao has never hosted MotoGP but has been an almost ever-present fixture on the World Superbike calendar since its construction.With the emergence of local star Miguel Oliveira, who is contesting his rookie MotoGP campaign this year with Red Bull KTM Tech3, interest is growing in the region with Portimao eager to lead the charge to bring the sport back to Portugal.FIM President Jorge Viegas has also hinted Portimao holds the replacement circuit deal while it has a pre-agreement to join the MotoGP race calendar in 2022. “4There is nobody who wants more the MotoGP back in Portugal than me! There is a pre-agreement for 2022…but can be before if someone pulls out. Thanks for sharing this dream! https://t.co/RrNc6rRaUh— Jorge Viegas (@jorgepviegas) September 7, 2019While a 2020 race calendar slot relies on either the Finland or Czech Republic round missing out, Portimao remains in talks with MotoGP organisers for its own race deal in the future.
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