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The governing body of MotoGP unveiled its provisional 2013 calendar this morning, and Austin is not on it.
But that doesn?t necessarily mean Austin does not have a race.
The calendar, which runs from late March to early November, has two dates marked ?To be confirmed:? April 14 and 21.
Before the calender was released, Ignacio Sagnier, a spokesman for the sport?s rights holder, cautioned in an email, ?Whether Austin is there or not, this will be a first draft. Last year we made some changes during December.?
Meanwhile, British-based Autosport.com reported this morning that Formula One?s provisional 2013 calendar includes two American races: one again near Austin and another at a street circuit in New Jersey.
The New Jersey race, which would be subject to confirmation, would be held June 16, a week after the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Autosport reported.
Circuit of The Americas is scheduled to host its first Formula One race Nov. 16-18 this year, and is again penciled in for mid-November in 2013, the website said.
The 20-race calendar, which does not include the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain, will be submitted for approval by the FIA?s World Motorsport Council at its meeting Sept. 28.
Whether Circuit of The Americas would have a MotoGP race next year has been the cause of much speculation recently.
A 10-year contract for MotoGP at the circuit was announced with much fanfare last April, but MotoGP soon became conspicuously absent from the circuit?s literature and promotions. When the circuit began selling permanent seat licenses, a MotoGP race was not mentioned.
The sport?s Spanish-based rights holder Dorna recently said it terminated that contract with motorcycling legend Kevin Schwantz and his company 3FourTexas and is negotiating with circuit organizers to host the race.
Schwantz is currently suing the circuit, charging that officials there undercut his relationship with Dorna.
Whether the Circuit of the Americas has been able to cut a new deal with Dorna is unclear at this point.
MotoGP is motorcycling?s equivalent of auto racing?s Formula One. It?s the pinnacle of the sport and is very popular in Europe.
It currently has two stops in the United States, Indianapolis and Laguna Seca in California ? both of which are on the 2013 provisional calendar.
At both locations the three-day event might draw 130,000 to 140,000 fans, with upwards of 60,000 for a Sunday race, officials have said.
Laguna Seca?s CEO/general manager Gill Campbell has estimated the MotoGP race generates about $100 million in revenue for the surrounding communities, about one-half of the economic impact of that track for an entire year.
For Circuit of The Americas, MotoGP would likely be the second biggest motorsports attaction, behind only the F1 race.
?The first draft is always provisional. We?ll see what happens with Austin,? said Sagnier, the Dorna spokesman.
Photo: Antonio Calanni / Associated Press
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