Mexico on provisional 2019 MotoGP calendar

MotoGP’s world expansion shows no signs of slowing after the news that the series will visit Mexico for the first time in 2019 as part of a 20-race calendar.

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which, in its current guise has hosted Formula1 races since 2015, has been added to the provisional calendar for next year, with confirmation expected to arrive in the coming months.

The Mexican venue will need to undergo alterations to be compatible for MotoGP racing, but series organisers Dorna are confident those will be ready for next April.

What will be the first Mexican motorcycle grand prix is expected to be the third race on the 2019 calendar, after the Grand Prix of Argentina and before the Grand Prix of the Americas in Texas.

Crash.net learned from senior paddock sources that, as it stands, there will be a free weekend between rounds two and three, with races Mexico and Texas then held on back-to-back weekends.

Finland and the all-new Kymi Ring had been scheduled to host a race in 2019, but, after construction delays, it is believed the track won’t be anywhere near ready by next summer, when Dorna had hoped to hold the event. Should Finland be completed by 2020, it will probably take the place of another European round rather than join as a 21st race.

After hosting Formula 1 races in the '80s, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was redeveloped to host the series in 2015. It’s located on the edge of Mexico City and also played host to the WEC series in 2017. Formula E, NASCAR and CART have all raced there too.