MotoGP scrapped its maiden race in Kazakhstan owing to the circuit’s unreadiness and will not replace it on the 20-round calendar, the sport announced Wednesday.
Kazakhstan signed a five-year MotoGP contract with the Sokol International Racetrack outside Almaty in September.
July 9 was the first race’s ninth round.
“Ongoing homologation works at the circuit, paired with current global operational challenges, have obliged the cancellation of the 2023 event,” MotoGP, FIM, and IRTA said in a joint statement.
They anticipated racing there in 2024.
India will debut in September at the Buddh International track in New Delhi as MotoGP expands into Asia.
Kazakhstan’s postponement creates a six-week gap between June 25’s Dutch TT and August 6’s British Grand Prix.
The championship loses 37 points because each racing weekend now has a sprint race on Saturday and the big Sunday event.
