The MotoGP testing schedule is to get truncated after the 2020 season for 2021 as the grand prix races increases to 22 from 2022 onward.
The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Paul Duparc (FIM), Herve Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), took the decision via electronic meeting on October 7 regarding the MotoGP testing schedule.
With the 2020 season having 20 races, the demands increase on the teams, riders and everyone involved in the sport. The idea – similar to F1 – was to offset it with less number of MotoGP test days and the decision was then taken to remove certain tests.
The agreement was reached to cancel the November 2020 test after the Valencia MotoGP race and also the traditional March 2021 test prior to the season-opener in Qatar. The change will take place from after the end of 2020 season.
The big change is the removal of third pre-season test with the MotoGP circus opting for only two – one at Sepang and the other at Losail. Here’s the revised schedule for 2020 and 2021:
| 19-20 November 2020, Valencia: Two-day official test. |
| 25-26 November 2020, Jerez: Two-day joint private test |
| 02-04 February 2021, Sepang: Three-day shakedown test. |
| 07-09 February 2021, Sepang: Three-day official test. |
| 22-24 February 2021, Qatar: Three-day official test |
| 04 May, Jerez 2021: One-day official test after the GP |
| 08 June, Barcelona 2021: One-day official test after the GP |
| 15-16 June, Finland 2021: Two-day Michelin tyre test – test teams only |
| 15-16 September 2021, Misano: Two-day joint private test |
MotoGP also released initial details of the 2021 test programme which includes a three-day pre-season test at Lombok in Indonesia, provided it secures a slot in the 2021 calendar. Other days includes two one-day official tests on Mondays after events with circuits to be confirmed and two-day official test at a circuit to be confirmed – probably Misano.