Thailand poised to join MotoGP calendar in 2018

Motorsport.com understands that the Hermann Tilke-designed facility has agreed a two-year deal with championship promoter Dorna Sports, with an option to extend it to a third.

Buriram opened in late 2014, and has hosted the World Superbike Championship since 2015.

It was originally meant to hold its first MotoGP event in 2017, but complications involving the track’s title sponsor Chang beer and Dorna's deal with rival brand Singha caused a delay.

Buriram will slot in towards the end of the calendar, creating two blocks of two flyaway rounds along with Motegi, Phillip Island and Sepang – which last year were held on three successive weekends.

Thailand’s inclusion of the 2018 schedule would likely mean that the Finnish Kymi Ring circuit, which was previously set to host its first MotoGP race next year, has its debut pushed back to 2019.

A round in Kazakhstan at the Sokol circuit, also designed by Tilke and visited last year by Jorge Lorenzo, is also believed to be under consideration to join the calendar, in either 2018 or 2019.

Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has previously stated that MotoGP will “never” exceed 20 rounds per year – meaning that if Finland and Kazakhstan both get added to the schedule, one of the existing 18 races will have to make way.

The only events out of contract for 2018 are Jerez and the new-for-2016 Red Bull Ring race.