Argentina's Termas de Rio Hondo signs MotoGP contract extension

MotoGP may not have visited Termas de Rio Hondo since 2019, with both the 2020 and 2021 rounds cancelled due to Covid, but a contract-extension means the Argentine circuit's future on the world championship is secure until at least 2025.

Termas de Rio Hondo first joined the MotoGP calendar in 2014. The circuit's current contract runs until 2022, with the new deal - agreed between Dorna Sports, the Argentinean Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the National Institute of Tourism Promotion, the Government of Santiago del Estero province as well as the local promoter OSD Group - for a further three years.

"The three-year contract renewal for the Grand Prix of Argentina is fantastic news for MotoGP, showing once again the incredible level of interest in our sport across the territory," said Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. "The impressive crowds who flock to the event, and from many different countries, added to the great feedback from the riders, proves how vital our presence in Argentina and Latin America truly is."

In addition to the Covid pandemic, a fire destroyed 80% of the Termas paddock buildings earlier this year.

Upon confirming the recent cancellation of the 2021 event, MotoGP announced that next year's Argentine round - still the only South American event - would be held in its usual April date.

Argentina is thus expected to be round three of the 2022 season, after Qatar and the new Indonesian event, with Austin and then an opening European round at Portimao pencilled-in to follow.