The upcoming weekend was originally scheduled for the MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix. However, at the end of January, the event was canceled due to circumstances in the country and will not take place.
This is another setback for the South American round, as there have been others in recent years. Unrelated to faults, it had to be canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, in 2021, the Termas de Río Hondo circuit suffered a setback: on February 6 of that year, a fire destroyed the pit building. Before returning to MotoGP in 2022, the grandstand, the press center, and the garages had to be rebuilt.
In the cancellation statement, MotoGP stated that ‘hopes to return to Termas de Río Hondo in 2025’. But could that really happen? Argentina is going through a turbulent period, with an ongoing economic crisis – poverty is growing, as well as external debt and inflation. The new president, Javier Milei, started his term with difficulties in governing due to the minority he has in parliament.
The circumstances led to the cancellation of this year’s GP, and it is not unlikely that they may prevent it from taking place in the future. Moreover, last November, FIM president Jorge Viegas told SportTV: ‘At the moment, everything suggests that Argentina will have, next year [2024], the last Grand Prix at Termas de Río Hondo, and then we will go to Brazil. But, as I say, things can change in the meantime. But that’s the idea’.
As it is known, this GP, which according to the federative leader could be the last in Argentina, did not take place. While contractually, this could mean a postponement to 2025, it is not publicly known at this time. Termas de Río Hondo debuted on the calendar a decade ago, while Brazil has not been part of it since 2004. The possible Brazilian GP would be in Brasília, at the Autódromo Nélson Piquet, which may need adjustments to meet the standards.
Brazil could bring more stability than Argentina, considering the political and economic situations of each country. On the other hand, it could be a more interesting market to explore, especially because there are Brazilian riders making their mark – Diogo Moreira, who is making his MotoGP debut this year, and Eric Granado, who is one of the stars of MotoE. Since Gabriel Rodrigo left halfway through 2022, there hasn’t been any Argentine in the paddock. A small but essential detail when it comes to appealing to the local audience.
Furthermore, Argentina may have already reached its potential after ten years, while Brazil is a new market to explore, as MotoGP hasn’t entered it for almost two decades. Moreover, with Liberty Media also aiming to expand into new markets, this could be another factor to consider. Of course, both races can coexist, but being in the same region on an already congested calendar, it is unlikely that this scenario will occur.