This Is The New MotoGP Calendar After The Australian GP Has Been Canceled 2 Times In A Row

MotoGP Illustration (Twitter @MotoGP)

JAKARTA - MotoGP organizers on Tuesday decided to cancel the Australian Grand Prix at the Phillip Island Circuit for the second time in a row due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

"We regret to announce that the 2021 Australian Grand Prix has been canceled due to restrictions and logistical challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic," the organizers said in a statement.

Unfortunately, we have to wait another year to see this sight! We'll see you next year, Phillip Island! And maybe, just maybe, they'll be some more home heroics from @jackmilleraus #AustralianGP pic.twitter.com/2ADNkHvy6j

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) July 6, 2021

MotoGP had to reshuffle the calendar a bit for the rest of the season, namely by advancing the Malaysian GP one week earlier to the October 24 slot, to replace Australia.

The Thai GP has been pushed back one week to October 17 to allow for two consecutive races during the Southeast Asia tour.

Noooooo ️ #AustralianGP canceled See u soon Australian fans! Can't wait to be back on this amazing track🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/fMEZNltGLl

— Alex Rins (@Rins42) July 6, 2021

Then Portugal, will return to host the race for the second time this season, after being the third series on April 18, when MotoGP re-entered the Algarve circuit to the November 7 slot, one week before the final series in Valencia.

"We have discussed with the Australian authorities and the organizers of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and unfortunately it is not possible, according to our agreement, to go to Phillip Island this year," said Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta as reported by the official MotoGP website.

"Basically they offered us to stay in the bubble, but implementing the bubble on Phillip Island was very difficult because as you all know we don't live in hotels but in houses," he explains.

Local authorities also require anyone entering Australia to undergo a 14-day quarantine, a rule that is likely to last until the end of the year.

Such a shame we won't be at the #AustralianGP this year Here's to doing everything we can to return to the increible PI next year, stay safe everyone pic.twitter.com/SdPYkPcRwB

— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) July 6, 2021

Therefore it is not possible for the MotoGP group to stay on Phillip Island, an island located 125km south of Melbourne.

"We had other possibilities and we discussed with the organizers of the Portimao Circuit and in the end we made the decision, because there is a difference of one week between Malaysia and Valencia, to allocate one more race at the Portimao circuit one week before Valencia.

"This allows us to keep the 19 races as originally planned," said Ezpeleta.

Here's the revised calendar for the rest of the 2021 MotoGP season

Styria GP - Red Bull Ring - 08 August

Austrian GP - Red Bull Ring - 15 August

Great Britain GP - Silverstone - 29 August

Aragon GP - Motorland Aragon - 12 September

GP San Marino - Misano - 19 September

American GP - Circuit of the Americas - October 3

Thai GP - Chang International Circuit - 17 October

Malaysian GP - Sepang International Circuit - 24 October

Algarve GP - Algarve International Circuit - 7 November

Valencia GP - Valencia Circuit - 14 November

*Delayed

Argentine Grand Prix - Termas de Rio Hondo