MotoGP’s leadership has expressed strong confidence that the Malaysian Grand Prix will remain on the calendar for years to come after significant progress in negotiations over a new hosting contract. MotoGP chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta said discussions with Sepang International Circuit (SIC) officials have advanced well and that a new five-year agreement is “pretty much done,” with only formal approval from government ministries and parliamentary processes left to complete.
The current agreement to host the race at Sepang expires at the end of this year. The Malaysian venue has been a fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 1999, apart from the cancellations during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Ezpeleta highlighted Sepang’s importance as MotoGP’s first race in Southeast Asia and said the sport is looking forward to continuing its presence in the region.
As part of the expanded relationship, MotoGP and SIC are also exploring opportunities to establish a more permanent presence in Malaysia beyond the annual race weekend. This could include year-round activities connected to MotoGP and related programmes.
Sepang International Circuit chief executive Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the renewal paperwork has already been submitted to the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports and is awaiting presentation to the national cabinet for approval. He expressed hope that a decision will be reached by the end of February, avoiding any interruption to Malaysia’s role as a host.
Securing the new contract comes at a time when global motorsport events are increasingly competitive, with circuits around the world vying to retain or attract premier racing series. For Malaysia, maintaining MotoGP at Sepang not only supports tourism and local motorsport development but also continues a long-standing tradition that has made the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia a highlight of the international racing calendar.
