MXGP to return to China, but MotoGP?!

Hearing that the MXGP will return to China got us thinking about the years MotoGP raced at the Shanghai Circuit. There were just four editions of this event, held from 2005 to 2008, after which the championship did not go back. Which begs the question – if the organisers seek exotic places with thriving markets, why doesn’t it return to a Republic that counts 1,413,142,846 (declared) inhabitants and boasts enviable economic expansion?

MotoGP China: two wins for Valentino Rossi

In MotoGP, Valentino Rossi scored two wins, in 2005 and 2008, both with Yamaha. #46 secured the title in both years, an idol in the country that boasts the longest wall in the world.

Casey Stoner at the China GP: wins in 250 and the reigning class

Australian rider Casey Stoner won at Shanghai in 2007, while competing with race number 27. He had already tasted success in China in 2005, scoring victory in the 250 class with the LCR Aprilia.

Two wins for Mika Kallio at the China GP

It’s a shame few speak of him - Mika Kallio was a great rider, one of the only Nordic riders to remain in the paddock in fact, in that he’s now a test rider for KTM. It was with the 125 and 250 orange bikes that the Finn was able to beat off the competition in 2006 and 2008, finishing first ahead of Mattia Pasini – who won the 125 race in 2005 - and Hiroshi Aoyama.

China enormous, rich and powerful, but also ‘abandoned’ by Formula 1

It’s no secret that China continues to expand both economically and demographically. The championship is keen to explore new and exotic locations, such as India – which it has now done, despite the obstacles - and Kazakhstan – which it has not yet done, although it looks like another attempt may be made in 2024.

That’s great if the goal is to boost visibility, economy and contact with territories that are potentially ripe in terms of their potential for international marketing and links with government and institutions. Regardless of whether there are any local riders on the grid, there’s a reason to compete in those places.

And so the question is whether we’ll ever see a return to China? Is there no circuit other than Shanghai that could host such an event? Formula 1 competed there on around 16 occasions, between 2004 and 2019. Then came the pandemic, which was followed by other issues. If the problems are not actually sport related, then perhaps there’s nothing doing.