MotoGP wants to arrive in India, but the circuit isn't ready

Kazakhstan and India, these are the countries that will be joining the MotoGP world championship calendar for the first time this year. Since the announcement of these two Grands Prix, however, doubts have arisen about the real possibilities of going to race to either circuit. Now, regarding eh round at the Buddh International Circuit, it seems that the rumours have been confirmed by the facts.

The Times of India, in fact, has reported that there is a real race against time to adapt the track to MotoGP standards and obtain FIM homologation, with 7 months left until the GP. When the heads of the International Motorcycle Federation visited the track, they requested some upgrades to bring it into line with the requirements of the world championship. We are talking about several unspecified works (including a partial resurfacing) which should cost between 3 and a half million and 4 and a half million euros.

The figure in itself is not exactly much to laugh about, but necessary to modify a circuit created for Formula 1 and which must guarantee the necessary safety for motorcycle racers.

The real problem, however, is who is responsible for the work. Pushkar Nath Srivastava is the chief operating officer of Fairstreet Sports, the local promoter organizing the GP with Dorna, wrote to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority. YEIDA acquired the circuit after Jaypee (the company that built it) went bankrupt, but Jaypee is still responsible for its maintenance. So arguments have arisen to understand which of the two companies will be responsible.

Some turns need to be extended: "because they are designed keeping cars in mind, in addition other changes and resurfacing of other stretches are required" explained the promoter.

Srivastava also revealed that when Carmelo Ezpeleta was in India in September 2022 "he was sceptical about holding the championship in 2023". The Indian GP is scheduled for the weekend of 24 September, so work should start as soon as possible so that the FIM can homologate the circuit.

There are still many doubts about Buddh, also considering that the last international race it hosted dates back to 2013, when Formula 1 was there for a race. In 2020, in the midst of the Covid emergency, it was instead used as a quarantine area for travellers who arrived in India.