Dorna Sports is happy to announce a contract extension with Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli that will see the venue remain on the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship calendar until 2021. The venue had previously been confirmed as the host for the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Rivieria di Rimini until at least 2020.
2021 will mark the 25th Grand Prix to be held at the track, with the first having taken place in 1980. Raced anti-clockwise until 1993, Misano then returned to the MotoGP™ calendar in 2007 with the direction of racing reversed to improve safety. The Adriatic classic often hosts one of the most spectacular events of the season and the stands turn yellow in support of local hero Valentino Rossi, with this extension giving fans even more reason to celebrate.
"We have signed a new agreement; the result of fruitful teamwork, which coincides with Dorna's desire to deepen ties to a territory that offers the World Championship a strong culture of motorsport and recognised organisational skills,” state the promoters of the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. “The three-year perspective will allow all of us, as well as the tourism industry, to bolster the development of an event that generates a huge crowd on the MotoGP calendar – with new energy on every level – and the economic impact means every Euro invested is multiplied by seven, up to €65 million this edition. Furthermore, our determination is strengthened even more due to the possibility of using a complex like MWC – producing strong investment in both infrastructure and sports – with the start of a federal center and now, a real training gym for current and future champions alike.”
“I’m delighted that Misano will remain a fixture on the calendar until 2021,” says Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. “We’re very proud of this event and it’s always one of the most incredible atmospheres of the year, so to confirm that we will continue racing here until 2021 is a pleasure. It’s a true classic on our calendar. Today is an important day for us in Dorna, as well as for a Grand Prix that has taken on extraordinary dimensions thanks to the efforts of the promoters and the incredible passion the area has for our sport."
The 22nd event at Misano sees the lights go out for the premier class race in the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini on Sunday 9th September at 14:00 (GMT +2).