Hungary off MotoGP calendar again

The Hungarian round of the 2010 MotoGP world championship at the Balatonring has been cancelled for a second successive year.

Due to take place on September 19 and be the 14th round of this year’s series, Dorna has just announced that the race has been axed with construction of the new circuit falling behind schedule.

The new Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain will replace the Balatonring on the same date (September 19) meaning four races of the world championship will now be staged in Spain.

The Balatonring was due to host the first Hungarian GP since 1992 but has been beset by problems.

Last season it was dropped off the calendar because building work fell well behind schedule and there were also question marks over funding the project as the global economic crisis hit.

In 2009 though no replacement race was staged and the world championship instead contested over 17 rounds.

It was only last month though that MotoGP bosses were saying the race looked likely to take place.

International Race Teams Association boss Mike Trimby said: “They have spent enough money that it is not worth stopping.

“The opinion of Dorna is it would be stupid to stop now. They have an act of parliament to pay for it so we should be going there.”

Full 2010 MotoGP calendar

April 11th  Losail  Qatar*
April 25th  Twin Ring Motegi Japan
May 2nd  Jerez  Spain
May 23rd  Le Mans France
June 6th Mugello Italy
June 20th  Silverstone Great Britain
June 26th Assen  Holland**
July 4th  Catalunya  Spain
July 18th  Sachsenring Germany
July 25th Laguna Seca USA***
August 22nd  Brno  Czech Republic
August 29th  Indianapolis  USA
September 5th Misano San Marino
September 19th Aragon Motorland Aragon
October 10th  Sepang  Malaysia
October 17th  Phillip Island Australia
October 31st  Estoril  Portugal
November 7th  Valencia Spain

* Night race
** Saturday race
*** MotoGP only