BREAKING: 2021 Thai MotoGP has officially been cancelled

The 2021 Thai MotoGP set to take place in Buriram later this year has officially been cancelled, confirms Dorna.

Fears over whether the Thai MotoGP would go ahead were extensive before today’s official announcement due to Thailand currently experiencing a record number of Covid 19 cases and resulting restrictions which, combined with a sluggish vaccination program, has seen the inevitable decision to cancel the Grand Prix - originally scheduled for mid-October take place. 

An official statement from Dorna said: "The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports regret to announce the cancellation of the OR Thailand Grand Prix, which was set to take place at Chang International Circuit from the 15th to the 17th of October. Despite the best efforts of all parties involved, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions have obliged the cancellation of the event.

"The FIM MotoGP™ World Championship looks forward to returning to race in front of the incredibly passionate Buriram crowd in 2022.

"A replacement event is currently under consideration and any updates regarding a possible substitute will be published as soon as available."

After joining the MotoGP calendar in 2018, the 2019 Thai round saw the highest spectator attendance of the season with 226,655 weekend fans, bringing in a total of 3.45 billion baht (95 million euros). Last year's round, like all the non-European events, was cancelled.

The only non-European MotoGP events so far held since the start of the pandemic are the 2021 season-openers in Qatar although COTA is currently scheduled to return on October 3 while Argentina is postponed but not yet cancelled.

This also leaves the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in doubt - currently set to take place one week later.