MotoGP plans record 21-rounds on provisional 2022 calendar

MotoGP hopes to bounce back from two Covid-shortened seasons with a record 21-rounds for the 2022 world championship.

The sport planned to top 20 races for the first time in 2020, but the Covid pandemic instead saw the season slashed to just 14 races, all based in Europe, including five back-to-back events at the same track.

This season's tally increased to 18-races but six rounds were cancelled for the second year running (Argentina, Finland, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia) and the calendar was again padded out by four repeat visits to the same circuit (Losail, Portimao, Red Bull Ring, Misano).

Qatar and COTA were the only non-European races.

Some tracks, especially overseas, are likely to still have some limits in place for spectator numbers in 2022 and the calendar again comes with the caveat: 'All dates and events, as well as the attendance of spectators, are subject to the evolution of the pandemic and the approval of corresponding governments and authorities.'

Assuming no further Covid cancellations, MotoGP aims to start 2022 with the traditional Qatar season-opener on March 6 before an inaugural race at the Mandalika circuit in Indonesia, which will also host the final pre-season test on February 11-13.

Argentina should then return on April 3 with COTA the following weekend, forming the first of five back-to-back events, plus one triple header.

Portimao keeps this year's place as the opening European round while the season's second new event, at Finland's KymiRing, is scheduled for July 10, just before the summer break.

The end-of-season flyaway races will begin with Japan and Thailand, now forming a tripleheader with Aragon a week before, followed by a weekend off and then Australia and Malaysia.

As usual, Valencia will host the season finale, this time on November 6...