MotoGP Calendar: Which Circuits Must Be Kept?
The current MotoGP calendar features 22 circuits in 18 countries, mostly in Europe. Never before has there been such a packed Grand Prix season, but debates about which tracks should be on the calendar can continue endlessly.
While organizers continue to explore various venues that serve as the MotoGP base, some riders have recently been asked about which tracks they believe should be preserved. A question far from easy, especially since they are only asked to choose six.
“Mugello, Austin, Brno, Malaysia, Phillip Island, Assen!” answered Francesco Bagnaia when trying to mention the important circuits. “There is also Barcelona, and more than six.”
“Six circuits where I am the fastest will be the best for me!” pragmatically replied Brad Binder, before trying to mention six. “I think we can’t live without Mugello, Phillip Island, great Assen, Brno, Jerez… And if I had to choose the sixth, I don’t know, I really like the track in the United States but I’m useless there, so I think I will avoid that one!”
Phillip Island seems to be the unanimous choice of the riders!
“Compared to Formula 1, I think we are very lucky because we have so many beautiful tracks,” said Luca Marini. “There are no six that I like, more or less like Brad said. If you are fast on the track, you like it, and if not, you avoid it! But it always depends on the bike and the sensations it gives you. From my point of view, you can be fast anywhere.”
However, this Honda rider is still aiming for, “Mugello first and foremost, Misano because I can get there by car or motorcycle, Portimao, Phillip Island, Austin is also very nice, and Brno.”
Personal taste, nationality, and track record can certainly influence a rider’s opinion, but other criteria also play a role, as noted by Bagnaia.
“Tracks really need to focus on safety development. As far as I know, there are some mandatory tracks but their safety level is not too high, like Jerez Turns 4 or 7. We see Álex Rins and Franky Morbidelli falling at these points and arriving very quickly at the barriers. Or Barcelona, where the grip level is very low. So there are some tracks that we need to improve the safety of,” he explained.
With the poor track conditions, Brno was absent from the calendar for four years. However, many riders expressed their excitement upon returning to the Czech circuit last month, indicating that the focus may be on addressing such difficulties and doing the necessary work to preserve the most interesting tracks.
“I am happy to be here because this is a very beautiful track, which I think, we should race here for four years we haven’t been here,” said Marco Bezzecchi before stepping on the podium in Brno.
The 2026 calendar launched a few days ago revealed that the number of Grand Prix races will not change next season and most of the circuits will be retained. Only Argentina will exit the program to make way for Brazil, with an event taking place at the new Goiânia circuit. Argentina will return in 2027, but in Buenos Aires, not in Termas de Río Hondo.
With this rider sample, we can see that Mugello, Austin, Brno, and Phillip Island stand out from the rest. And for you, which circuit should not be touched in the MotoGP calendar?
