Japanese MotoGP Is A Question Mark, Dorna Sport: We Plan 21 Races, No Less Than 19

JAKARTA - Dorna Sport hopes that the plan to hold 21 series of MotoGP races this season can be completed according to plan. The only grand prix that remains a question mark is Japan.

"We are planning 21 races and no less than 19 races," said Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta as reported by Speedweek.

The uncertainty of the Japanese series is influenced by the quarantine rules imposed in the country. If this rule is not revoked at the time of the race schedule, there is a possibility that it will not be held.

The Japanese series race takes place at the Motegi Twin Ring Circuit, which is planned to take place on September 25. If Japan wants to keep racing, they will have to relax quarantine rules because the crew of the racers don't have enough time when faced with a busy schedule in the following month.

"We assume that the quarantine regulations for the Japanese GP will be lifted in due course. If quarantine is imposed, of course we will not go," said Ezpeleta.

Apart from Japan, the Australian Grand Prix at the Phillip Island Circuit is also reportedly threatened with quarantine rules. However, this series is unlikely to be canceled because Formula 1 (F1) has already held a race there this month.

Ezpeleta stressed that if the worst situation that requires the two races to be cancelled, there will be no substitute series to fulfill the 21 series in order to fulfill the original plan.

"Formula 1 went there a week ago. If F1 can perform there, so can we. If we are not required to quarantine when we go to the country in the fall, we will go there," he said.

The 21 races on the MotoGP calendar this year are the first in grand prix history since it started in 1949. Two races added to the calendar this season are the Finnish series and the Mandalika.

The Finland series was held for the first time since 1982, while the Mandalika marked the first time Indonesia had hosted it since 1997.

So far MotoGP has held as many as four series of races. Besides Mandalika, the other three series that have been held are Qatar, Argentina and the United States.