(Reuters) – The Portuguese Grand Prix will be the MotoGP’s season-opening race in 2023, organisers said on Tuesday.
Qatar has opened the MotoGP season since 2007, apart from 2020 when the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Qatar’s Lusail circuit is set to undergo extensive renovation and will only be able to host a race following the completion of work.
“The full, provisional 2023 MotoGP calendar will be published by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) in due course, but the first event can already be confirmed,” MotoGP said in a statement.
“The 2023 Portuguese GP will mark the first time the MotoGP calendar has begun in Europe since 2006 and will be only the third season opener held in Europe in more than three decades.”
The race will take place at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao from March 24-26 next year.
Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo secured his first win of the 2022 season in a drama-filled Portuguese Grand Prix in April.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
