MotoGP India was hosted at the Buddh International Circuit in September 2023. What began with uncertainty ultimately turned into a successful event and a strong venue for the championship. However, uncertainty has resurfaced, as the return of the premier motorcycle racing series still remains unclear. The event’s promoter was Fairstreet Sports Private Limited, a company registered in Lucknow and based in Noida, close to the race venue.

The 2023 MotoGP Grand Prix of India and Its Success

Before the MotoGP paddock arrived in India, the event faced several hurdles, including certification delays, safety concerns, opaque promotion and branding, and visa complications. Most of these issues were eventually addressed by the concerned authorities, allowing the weekend to proceed smoothly. Fans were thrilled to witness a premier international motorsport event at the Buddh International Circuit for the first time since 2013, when Formula 1 left India amid widely discussed challenges.

According to the race promoters, Fairstreet Sports, the expected economic impact of the 2023 MotoGP Bharat event was estimated at Rs. 962 crore (US$115 million). The company had also stated its intention to invest over Rs. 250 crore into hosting the event.

“We will be investing over Rs 250 crore, including one-time investments such as the development of tracks and stands, maintaining seats, and organising music and food festivals,” said Founder and COO of Fairstreet, Pushkar Nath Srivastava. He added, “We are very close to our projections that we will break even on our investments.”

The race attracted 111,762 spectators across the three-day weekend, and its actual economic impact reportedly exceeded Rs. 500 crore. While the final figures fell short of initial projections, the event was still widely regarded as a success in terms of economic contribution and the positive impression it left on teams, riders, and fans alike.

The Fall of MotoGP Bharat

What followed left a sour note for many, as several stakeholders’ dues reportedly remained unpaid. Local companies that had supported the event by providing housekeeping, security, and maintenance services filed complaints with regional legislators over pending payments. Reports also emerged claiming that the promoter had not paid a licence fee of more than Rs. 120 crore to Dorna, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP. In addition, there were allegations that dues of around Rs. 14 crore to the Buddh International Circuit were still outstanding. These developments prompted some legislators to call for an audit of the promoter company to examine the alleged financial irregularities.

The promoters denied the allegations, stating that certain stakeholders had submitted inflated invoices. Addressing the claims involving Dorna, they said, “Had there been any issues regarding the licence fee with Dorna, the company would not have announced the event for 2024.”

In May 2024, the 2024 MotoGP race was cancelled and deferred to 2025. The official reason cited for the cancellation was extreme weather conditions in the NCR region. The 2023 event, held in September, had already tested riders and teams, with track temperatures reportedly reaching close to 40 degrees Celsius.

The event was then scheduled to return in March 2025, with fans welcoming the news and hoping for improved organisation compared to the previous edition. Locals, however, remained cautious, noting that March in northern India can still bring challenging heat and weather conditions.

In September 2024, speculation once again intensified regarding the prospects of a 2025 race. This was followed by an official announcement from MotoGP confirming that the 2025 round had been shelved, that India would instead serve as a reserve event, and that the race would now be considered for inclusion on the 2026 calendar.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Proceedings

Behind the cancellations and the allegations of financial irregularities, mounting pressure was building over unpaid dues to creditors, including the circuit, Dorna, other service providers, and even employees and contract workers.

On 6 March 2024, a demand notice under Section 8 of the Indian Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, was issued by JAL (Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, operators of the Buddh International Circuit) to Fairstreet Sports Pvt Ltd (FSS).

In its response, FSS cited a shortage of funds arising from pending shares of sponsorship and ticketing revenue. The company stated that significant expenditure on track preparation and event logistics had depleted its resources, and it subsequently requested additional time to clear the outstanding payments. BIC, on its part, maintained that the dues had already been budgeted and communicated to prospective investors.

The Dues of ₹203 Crore

Multiple hearings were held regarding the dues claimed by the Buddh International Circuit against Fairstreet Sports. During these proceedings, no representative appeared on behalf of Fairstreet Sports to contest the claims; as a result, the matter proceeded ex parte.

In its order dated 9 May 2025, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings against MotoGP India promoter Fairstreet Sports, initiated by Jaiprakash Associates Limited, the operator of the Buddh International Circuit.

A public announcement for the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process was issued on 12 May 2025, inviting all entities with pending dues from Fairstreet Sports Pvt Ltd to submit their claims by 23 May 2025. Claims amounting to approximately Rs. 203 crore were subsequently filed. These primarily included Dorna Sports (Rs. 171 crore), Jaiprakash Associates Limited (Rs. 18.22 crore), Pavilions & Interiors India Pvt Ltd (Rs. 2.82 crore), Meroform (India) Pvt Ltd (Rs. 2.26 crore), Loop Matrix India Pvt Ltd (Rs. 1.02 crore), along with other smaller claims totalling around Rs. 1 crore.

The Details of Claims:

Break-up of the Operational Creditors:

Current Status of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Proceedings

As per the public announcement, the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) was initially estimated to conclude by 5 November 2025, in accordance with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, which provides a 180-day timeline from the commencement of proceedings. This period is extendable up to a maximum of 330 days, which would place the outer limit around 22 February 2026.

According to the latest updates available on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) portal, the CIRP proceedings are still ongoing. Under this process, an Expression of Interest is typically invited from prospective investors who may take over the defaulting company and settle its dues through an approved resolution plan. Alternatively, the existing promoters may also submit a resolution plan to clear outstanding liabilities.

If no viable resolution plan materialises, the process moves into liquidation, wherein the company’s assets are sold to repay creditors. Such outcomes often lead to creditors recovering only a portion of their original claims, depending on the valuation and realisation of the assets.

What Is the Future of MotoGP in India?

Despite a contract reportedly running until the end of 2027, the chances of the Indian Grand Prix returning to the MotoGP calendar now appear minimal. The race has already been dropped for 2024 and 2025, and its inclusion for 2026 also remains uncertain. The Uttar Pradesh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AVW Global, a motorsport firm founded by former MotoGP rider Karel Abraham, to bring MotoGP back to India. However, a comeback before 2028 looks highly unlikely.

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Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

The Indian GP has been dropped from the MotoGP calendar for the third consecutive time, following its first and only appearance in 2023. Visa issues in 2023, extreme weather and operational challenges in 2024, and operational constraints in 2025 — What could have caused cancellation in 2026?

2023 – Visa Issues

As teams and riders traveled to India for the first Indian GP, held from September 22 to 24, 2023, at the Buddh International Circuit, many were unable to fly due to pending visa approvals, including riders such as Marc Marquez and Joan Mir. Over 500 visa applications were granted initially, but hundreds remained pending as the race weekend approached, prompting urgent logistical interventions.

Here’s a tweet from our page back in 2023, when Marc Márquez, Brad Binder, and Joan Mir had to delay their arrival in India due to visa issues.

Organizers at Fairstreet Sports, working with the Uttar Pradesh government, attributed the delays to a technical glitch caused by an agency handling visa applications, which initially delayed as many as 600 applications out of approximately 1,800 required for riders, staff, and officials. By Wednesday evening (Sept 20), most outstanding visas had been cleared, allowing riders and team personnel to begin arriving at the circuit in time for the first on-track sessions. Despite the initial chaos, the Indian GP went ahead as planned.

2024 – Unfavourable Weather and Operational Challenges

The Indian GP was initially scheduled for September 2024 at the Buddh International Circuit. However, high temperatures and humidity at the 2023 inaugural event (with ambient readings around 40 °C) caused severe discomfort for riders and staff, prompting calls to shorten race distances.

Indian GP Organisers judged that the September weather conditions were not safe or sustainable, and a mutual decision, involving Dorna, Fairstreet Sports, and the Uttar Pradesh government, led to the rescheduling of the race to March 2025. While reports were hinting at delayed payments by the promoter Fairstreet Sports, Fairstreet denied this was a factor, attributing the postponement solely to scheduling and weather-related concerns

2025 – Operational circumstances

Although the event had been tentatively shifted to March 2025, it was eventually dropped from the 2025 MotoGP calendar entirely due to broader operational constraints. Dorna confirmed in September 2024 that the race would serve only as a reserve event for 2025, with no available calendar slots later in the season, and targeting a full return in early 2026.

“Operational circumstances have obliged the event to be delayed from its initial slot near the start of the 2025 calendar. With no available dates towards the end of the season, MotoGP™ will therefore return to India in the early stages of 2026.” – MotoGP statement

The decision followed the signing of a new three-year contract directly with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, bypassing Fairstreet Sports. However, no new promoter was secured in time, and scheduling windows were tight, pushing the return further into 2026.

What happened to the 2026 race?

According to our sources, a dispute has been ongoing between Dorna and the Indian organizers over funding-related issues, which may have contributed to the race being dropped from the calendar. Additionally, we understand that charges have been filed against Pushkar Nath Srivastava, the Chief Operating Officer at FairStreet Sports. Among the key issues was a failure to raise sufficient funds, which appears to have been a primary trigger for the fallout. Currently, we don’t have the exact details of the matter.

Hosting a MotoGP race is a substantial financial commitment, involving substantial fees paid to Dorna, as well as costs for circuit upgrades, logistics, security, and hospitality. Here is the estimated cost of running MotoGP’s Indian Grand Prix, according to Invest UP’s tender in 2024:

What’s next for the Indian GP?

Despite a contract running until the end of 2027, the chances of the Indian GP returning to the MotoGP calendar are now minimal. The race has been dropped for 2024, 2025, and now 2026 as well. No local promoter has been confirmed, and ongoing logistical and financial issues remain unresolved. As it stands, a comeback before 2027 looks highly unlikely.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

MotoGP went from Marquez’s backyard in Aragon to Bagnaia’s backyard in Mugello, but the end result was the same: a complete domination by Marc Marquez. This weekend it was made more special as Marquez got his 93rd win in all classes of two-wheeler racing.

Read More: MotoGP Aragon: Marc Marquez Dominant at His Backyard

93 Wins for #93

Marc Marquez had another dominant weekend in MotoGP, taking yet another Pole, Sprint win, and Grand Prix win at Mugello. After a short winless streak of 4 races, Marc bounced back strong to have 2 dominant weekends in Aragon and in Mugello. In Mugello, however, it was not an easy ride.

During the Sprint race, Marquez had an issue with his bike just as the lights were about to go out, which resulted in Marc dropping places going into Turn 1. But Marc soon made up places, going up to P3 at the start of Lap 3. What commenced was a battle for victory between Marc, Bagnaia and Alex. On lap 4, Marc made the move for the lead, and it was smooth sailing for him afterwards as he converted his 100th GP pole to the sprint win.

The GP race on Sunday was a treat to the eyes. The opening laps in Mugello were some of the best we have seen this year in terms of racing. Marc was constantly challenged and overtaken for the lead by his teammate and brother, a proper edge-of-the-seat drama. Ultimately, Marc took the win with his brother following him in P2.

Vintage Bagnaia on Display in Mugello but in Vain

For the first time this year, we saw the Bagnaia we had been expecting to see from the start. When Marquez signed for Ducati, everyone was looking forward to Marquez vs Bagnaia, but that did not happen this year, until Mugello. Pecco was in his vintage mode, taking on Marquez toe to toe and more often than not coming out ahead of his teammate, although eventually it was Marquez who got the better of him. Pecco still had a decent weekend, a P3 in the sprint and narrowly missing out on the podium on Sunday after leading the race early on.

Another Solid Weekend from Alex Marquez

Alex Marquez got his 6th podium of the season and a fourth Marquez 1-2 of the year. Alex did briefly challenge for the win in both races in Mugello, but eventually lost out to Marc, just like everyone else. Currently sitting second in the standings, Alex is 40 points behind his older brother, and there is still a long season to go. Although there have been allegations made after Mugello that Alex does not race his older brother like he races others, if Alex does take on Marc, it will be a championship battle to watch out for.

Di Giannantonio Matches His Best Season in MotoGP in Terms of Podiums

Fabio Di Giannantonio got his second podium of the year, finishing P3 in Mugello, matching his best finish of P3 in Austin earlier this year. The Italian rider had a stellar show on Sunday, charging up to claim the podium, narrowly missing out on P2 as he ran out of laps to chase down Alex. Overall, it is a weekend Diggia will be happy with and will look to build on it for the rest of the season. He currently sits 5th in the standings, only 8 points behind his teammate in fourth.

Up Next: Assen

No time to rest as the paddock moves to TT Circuit Assen for the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix from 27th to 29th June for the second leg of the double header. Who triumphs in the land of the Dutch? Only one way to find out. Watch all the MotoGP action live in India online on Fancode or on your TVs at Eurosport.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.