As the premier motorcycle racing series globally, MotoGP visits some of the most iconic circuits to ever grace the world of Grand Prix racing. While the current calendar features spectacular venues, there are several legendary tracks that either haven’t hosted MotoGP or have been absent from the schedule for years.
These circuits represent a rich motorsport heritage, with each carrying a distinct characteristic that leaves a gaping hole in the current calendar. Here’s a look at five tracks that deserve a spot on the MotoGP calendar.
Kyalami Circuit (South Africa)
Near Johannesburg lies the Kyalami Circuit. It holds a special place in not just South African motorsport history, but for motorsports as a whole. Its name translates to “my home” in Zulu. Kyalami has experienced fluctuating fortunes over the past decades, with talks of its inclusion in either the MotoGP or F1 calendar seemingly never materialising.
Kyalami’s origins date back to the post-war era when local motorsport enthusiasts sought a modern venue to replace the outdated Grand Central Circuit. The track has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. Most recently, Kyalami received extensive renovations that elevated it to FIA Grade 2 status, making it eligible for most international racing series.
While Kyalami hasn’t hosted MotoGP in the modern era, its layout and elevation changes would most certainly provide an excellent challenge for riders. Recently, the circuit returned to the international motorsport scene in 2019 when it hosted the Kyalami 9 Hours event as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
The African continent remains untapped by MotoGP, and bringing the championship to South Africa would not expand its global footprint, but to also provide a new and exciting layout to the calendar However, it it does need to be said that further safety improvements are needed to meet FIM Grade A standards.
Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps holds the title as being one of motorsport’s most revered tracks. Cutting through Belgium’s Ardennes Forest, Spa is a track that rewards the brave. But this is most likely why the track is no longer on the calendar, with its last meeting held in 1990 with the 500cc class.
The circuit’s high-speed nature, combined with insufficient runoff areas in critical sections, presents significant risks for motorcycle racing. This safety concern is similar to why Japan’s Suzuka Circuit was removed from the MotoGP calendar after 2003 after Japan’s own Daijiro Kato was killed.
In recent years, improvements have been made, especially concerning run-off areas. While these changes were primarily designed with car racing in mind, the benefits are equally shared by their two-wheeled counterparts.
The prospect of MotoGP bikes roaring down Eau Rouge and Blanchimont still seems nothing more than an ambitious dream for many fans, but with continued safety improvement efforts, we seem to inch ever so closer to that dream becoming a reality.
Imola (Italy)
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, also known as Imola, is one of Italy’s most storied racing circuits. East of Bologna, where the Ducati factory is situated, the 4.9-kilometre circuit is among a select few that run counterclockwise.
Imola’s history dates back to 1953 when it hosted its first motorcycle race, followed by car races the next year. Through the decades, the circuit has been a staple for various grand prix and endurance racing series.
Originally configured without chicanes, Imola featured long and fast flowing sections. Multiple changes were included throughout the years, with the most significant change taking place in 1994 in the aftermath of Aryton Senna’s fatal accident. The death of the Brazillian saw the inclusion of chicanes at Tamburello and Villeneuve corners to reduce speeds.
While Imola has been a fixture on the World Superbike Championship calendar, it hasn’t featured in the modern MotoGP era. Some consider the circuit’s narrow sections and limited run-off areas in certain parts to be challenging for meeting MotoGP’s safety requirements.
Nevertheless, Imola’s technical layout, given its sheer speed and elevation changes combined with passionate Italian fans make it an enticing prospect for future MotoGP events. Given the success of Ducati in MotoGP as of late, a second Italian round at Imola would undoubtedly draw substantial crowds.
Sportsland Sugo (Japan)
As a wildcard entry ot the list, and while not as internationally renowned as Suzuka or Motegi, Sportsland Sugo holds a special place in Japanese motorsport culture and offers a unique challenge that would make it an intriguing MotoGP venue.
The 3.737-kilometre circuit in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture features a compelling mix of tight, technical sections and flowing high-speed corners, making the circuit blindsidingly demanding. Sugo is undoubtedly an old-school circuit, its famous uphill SP section tests the bravery and precision of every rider.
While Sugo has never hosted a race for MotoGP, the track has been a longtime venue for the All Japan Road Race Championship. International racing fans may recognise the circuit from World Superbike, which held events there from 1988 to 2003 when the circuit produced memorable battles featuring legends like Carl Fogarty, Noriyuki Haga, and Troy Bayliss.
Japan has a tenured role in motorcycle racing, with Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki etching out a large part of MotoGP’s history. Adding in Sugo as second track in the Land of the Rising Sun serves an interesting juxtaposition to Motegi, while paying homage to Japan’s role in motorsports.
Laguna Seca (USA)
The WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is perhaps best known for one of motorsport’s most iconic corners—the Corkscrew, a downhill section featuring a blind crest followed by a plunge and direction change that instigated many historic battles over the years.
Unlike the other circuits on this list, Laguna Seca has relatively recent MotoGP history, and the Californian circuit has provided some of MotoGP’s most memorable moments despite its relatively brief appearance on the calendar.
The circuit hosted the premier class from 2005 to 2013 and was home to several iconic moments, including the legendary 2008 battle between Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, where Rossi’s pass through the dirt at the Corkscrew put a capstone on one of motorcycle racing’s most intense rivalries.
MotoGP’s departure from Laguna Seca resulted from a combination of financial challenges, limited facilities, and safety concerns about the circuit’s narrow width and limited runoff areas. With the addition of Circuit of the Americas in Texas, there is little reason commercially to reintroduce Laguna Seca back on the calendar.
In recent years, Laguna Seca has undergone facility improvements, including track resurfacing. While significant work would still be needed to bring the circuit back to par with MotoGP standards, the historic nature of the circuit makes it a worthy candidate for a potential return.
MotoGP is growing exponentially with each passing season, but with an ever-changing calendar, historic venues are seemingly left out of the limelight, or being phased out entirely (For example Brno).
While certain factors, such as commercial priorities for track owners or local governments are inevitably out of control for MotoGP’s governing bodies, some of these tracks are held to such a high regard by racing fans for a reason, and their inclusion to the calendar would most definitely act as a catalyst for some memorable wheel-to-wheel action.
