JABAR EKSPRES —The MotoGP race in Kazakhstan, scheduled for July 9, has been canceled following a number of preparatory constraints and will not be replaced to fill the gap in this season’s world championship calendar, Dorna Sports said on Wednesday (26/4).

“Ongoing homologation work at the circuit, coupled with global operational challenges, have led to the cancellation of the 2023 race,” said an official Dorna statement.

Kazakhstan in September last year signed a five-year contract to stage MotoGP racing at the Sokol International Circuit, on the outskirts of Almaty.

The inaugural race in the country should be the ninth series in the middle of this year.

The MotoGP commercial rights holder hopes to have the Sokol International Circuit completed and ready to hold the Grand Prix by next year.

MotoGP is expanding its presence by venturing into potential new markets in Asia such as Indonesia with the Mandalika Circuit and then India which will debut in September at the Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi.

The cancellation means there will be a six-week gap between the Dutch GP (June 25) and the British GP (August 6) and means this year’s MotoGP world championship will consist of just 20 Grand Prix races, three of which have already been held.

It also makes 37 maximum points lost in the championship as MotoGP this season adopts a sprint race on Saturday before the main race the following day.

The riders will head to the fourth series race in the southern Spanish city of Jerez this weekend.