[kropotkin thinks...] - Bulgaria In Running For MotoGP Round

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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Over the past couple of years, it seems as if MotoGP has been pulling out of Asia and returning to Europe, the continent where the series was born. First came the withdrawal from Turkey, after new track owner Bernie Ecclestone upped the sanctioning fees for the spectacular Istanbul circuit. Then, earlier this year, Dorna announced that MotoGP will not be returning to Shanghai in China next year, after poor attendances combined with incredibly restrictive customs procedures made staging the Chinese Grand Prix a difficult, expensive and unrewarding experience.

The Istanbul round saw Indianapolis take its place on the MotoGP calendar, and next year, the Balatonring in Hungary will replace Shanghai. And according to the Bulgarian press agency FOCUS, Bulgaria will be the next country to host a MotoGP round. FOCUS is reporting that Claude Danis, the FIM's safety director, stated that a new Bulgarian track currently under construction will be added to the MotoGP calendar in 2011. The circuit, designed by Adamo Leonzio, will be "out of this world" according to its designer, though further details are being kept secret while negotiations are ongoing.

There is still some confusion as to whether the race will take place in 2011 or not. Other news sources in Bulgaria are reporting that construction will start in 2011, and that a MotoGP round will be run there at some unnamed point in the future.

If MotoGP is to visit in 2011, then the Sepang MotoGP round would appear to be the most likely candidate for replacement. Sepang has a contract to host a MotoGP race until 2010, which would dovetail nicely with the Bulgarian plans. In its favor, however, Sepang is an excellent place for winter testing, as the tropics are one of the few places where the weather is suitable for racing motorcycles in February and March, the midst of the testing season.

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