MotoGP Roars Back to Brno After Four-Year Hiatus with Star-Studded Line-Up and Renovated Circuit
Prague, The Gulf Observer: For the first time since 2020, the world’s most prestigious motorcycle racing series, MotoGP, is returning to Czechia’s iconic Masaryk Circuit in Brno. Following a comprehensive overhaul of the track and facilities, the legendary venue is set to host a full race weekend featuring the elite MotoGP class, along with Moto2 and Moto3 championships. Free practice sessions will commence Friday morning at 9:00 AM, building up to Sunday’s marquee MotoGP race at 2:00 PM.
The long-anticipated return was made possible thanks to major resurfacing work on the circuit’s asphalt track—one of the prerequisites for regaining MotoGP accreditation. The renovation, financed by track owner and investor Karel Hubáček at a cost of 180 million Czech crowns, has transformed the venue. “We are still fine-tuning some of the parking spaces and installing fiber optics and other cabling,” explained circuit spokesman Petr Boháč. “Spectator areas have been fully renovated, and permanent grandstand seating is nearing completion.”
The event promises high-octane excitement with 26 of the world’s best riders competing over 21 laps in a season that has reached its halfway mark. Reigning champion Marc Márquez, who currently leads the standings with a dominant 83-point advantage over his brother Álex Márquez, returns to a track where he has already triumphed three times—in 2013, 2017, and 2019. The Spanish legend is on a mission to equal Valentino Rossi’s record of seven MotoGP titles, with Rossi also holding the Brno record of four wins in the premier class.
South African Brad Binder, who clinched his maiden MotoGP victory at Brno in 2020—the last race before renovations began—is back on the grid, currently ranked 12th in the championship. His return adds to the nostalgic and competitive allure of this weekend’s race.
For Czech fans, local hero Filip Salač will be the sole home-country representative, competing in the Moto2 category. The 23-year-old rider from Mladá Boleslav is no stranger to the Brno track, having competed here in Moto3. Reflecting on his earlier performances, Salač said, “In 2019, I was only 17 and didn’t handle the pressure well. This time, I plan to enjoy the race and give the Czech fans something to cheer for.”
Having already tested the freshly laid asphalt—though not on his racing bike—Salač praised the transformation: “It’s incomparable to what was here before. There are no bumps, and the grip is phenomenal. It allows for sharper lean angles without compromising rear-wheel traction.” He also hinted at the possibility of a new lap record, noting he had come within half a second of the Moto2 best time, albeit under non-race conditions.
MotoGP’s return to Brno has stirred immense fan enthusiasm, with all grandstand tickets sold out and only limited general admission slots remaining. Organizers expect up to 200,000 visitors from over 40 countries, making this one of Czechia’s largest sporting spectacles of the year.
As anticipation builds, the eyes of the motorsport world will once again turn to Brno, where history, speed, and national pride converge on a newly minted track ready to test the world’s fastest riders.
