Saudi Arabia has come a long way towards hosting the MotoGP World Championship since signing commercial rights owner Dorna, the parties announced on Monday.
“Dorna Sports and Saudi Motorsports Company (SMC) have confirmed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their joint intention to bring cycling’s elite to the Kingdom,” Dorna wrote on its official website.
The press release states: “The addition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the MotoGP calendar with an annual rhythm will further boost the sport in the Middle East as Qatar currently hosts the only tour in the region.”
The application does not indicate the date or track on which the Grand Prix will take place.
MotoGP explained that the tour will take place on a newly built track, approved by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and FIM.
It is possible that Qiddiya Arena, named after the huge city of entertainment, not far from Riyadh.
Saudi Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal tweeted: “.. We look forward to hosting the best motorcycle racing in the world in the Kingdom…”.
I was delighted to be present at the signing of a cooperation agreement between two Saudi Arabian motorsport companies and (Dorna Sport), the owner of the rights to the championship. @MotoGP We look forward to hosting the best motorcycle racing in the world in the Kingdom.
I also had the pleasure of meeting a number of San Marino officials on the sidelines of the Moto GP World Championship. pic.twitter.com/yeI6iDMLXl— Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal (@AbdulazizTF) September 5, 2022
For its part, Saudi Motorsports Company wrote on the sidelines of the San Marino Awards on Sunday: “…His Highness Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. and Saudi Motorsport have signed a memorandum of understanding with Dorna Sport, the owner of the MotoGP championship, to achieve common goals that contribute to bringing the best motorcycle racing in the world to the Kingdom.”
The investment in sports is part of a multifaceted strategy, approved six years ago, to diversify the oil-dependent economy of the Gulf nation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s long-term project.
In the most famous mechanical competition, the wealthy Gulf country has since 2020 hosted the Dakar Rally in the desert and the grand prize of the Formula 1 World Championship, which was held on a street track in Jeddah.
Source: AFP