Cal Crutchlow's Ducati race debut pencilled in for March 23

Cal Crutchlow’s Ducati race debut in 2014 is expected to be under the Losail International Circuit floodlights in Qatar on March 23.

The season’s opening race will follow three pre-season test sessions, which also include a visit to Qatar in early March, with the only European test in Jerez dropped off the winter schedule.

The 2014 pre-season will kick off in the searing heat at the Sepang track in Malaysia for a three-day session between February 4 and 6

As has become traditional in winter testing, Sepang will host a second test on February 26-28 before pre-season preparations conclude in Qatar between March 4 -6.

The season’s opening clash in Doha will then take place a fortnight later.

Poor weather and the costs of shipping freight back from Malaysia to Europe are the main reasons behind the decision to axe the Jerez pre-season showdown.

The Jerez test only came back on the winter schedule in 2012 but the Qatar test will allow teams to leave all their machinery and equipment on site at the Losail International track in advance of the opening round.

The Qatar race has been moved earlier in the year, with the 2014 calendar almost certain to be expanded beyond its current 18-round format.

With a new race in Argentina already confirmed, Dorna management flew to Brazil immediately after last weekend’s Indianapolis race to agree a deal for a race at the Autodromo Internacional Nelson Piquet Brasilia in 2014, subject to FIM homologation.

That could potentially expand the calendar to 20 races, though one round could be dropped, with Valencia and Laguna Seca rumoured to be the most vulnerable

Proposed 2014 MotoGP testing dates

• February 4-6 – Sepang
• February 26-28 Sepang
• March 4-6 – Qatar

Proposed 2014 Moto2/Moto3 testing dates

• February 11-13 – Valencia
• February 18-20 – Jerez
• March 10-12 – Jerez