The FIM and MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna Sports on Wednesday confirmed the cancellation of the 2024 Argentina GP.
The reason? On similar lines to the decision earlier this month by Formula E Operations (FEO) to cancel the Hyderabad E Prix (Round 4) of Season 10 – a new government pulling the plug on financial support.
The difference? The Hyderabad E Prix was cancelled due to a change of government at the state level in Telengana while in the case of the Argentina GP it is a change in government following national elections.
A statement issued by MotoGP on Wednesday reads: “Due to the current circumstances in Argentina, the Promoter of the event has communicated that it is currently unable to guarantee the services required for the Grand Prix to take place in 2024 at MotoGP standards.
“This event will not be replaced on the 2024 calendar. MotoGP hopes to return to race at Termas de Rio Hondo in 2025.”
Last week the third round of the season in Argentina looked under serious threat due to government spending cuts under the country’s new pro-West (read US) President Javier Milei.
This year’s calendar was due to be the longest in history at 22 rounds, beginning on 10 March with the Qatar Grand Prix.
Argentina returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2014 at the Rio Hondo track and has been a mainstay on the schedule ever since – barring the two COVID years in 2020 and 2021.
It is worth noting that even a 21-round calendar will remain a record for MotoGP, with the addition of the inaugural Kazakhstan GP in June.
To be run at the new Sokol circuit, Kazakhstan is scheduled to take place on the weekend of 14-16 June.
