MOTOGP HAS NO CURRENT PLAN TO RACE IN RWANDA

Formula 1’s plan to stage an African Grand Prix in Rwanda from the early 2030s has prompted speculation that MotoGP could also return to the continent. But there is no official project for the motorcycle championship to race in Rwanda, according to GPOne.

F1’s event is planned for a new circuit in Bugesera, which will be built after the track design is finalised. WurzDesign, led by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, is working on the project with Tilke Engineers and Architects. The circuit is being designed to meet FIA Grade 1 standards, and its backers hope it could eventually host other racing categories as well as F1. That leaves open the possibility of MotoGP visiting one day, but the series is not currently a priority for the venue.

The prospect of a shared destination has drawn attention because Liberty Media owns both championships: it took over MotoGP in July 2025, having acquired F1 in 2017. Some crossover ideas have been discussed, and MotoGP will introduce separate qualifying sessions for its Sprint and Grand Prix races from 2027. However, a joint event has not materialised, and F1’s Rwanda announcement does not mean MotoGP is preparing to follow.

MotoGP last raced in Africa in 2004, at Welkom. Before that, it held races at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit during the 1980s and 1990s. F1 has chosen Bugesera rather than Kyalami for its planned return to the continent.

South African KTM rider Brad Binder has said he would like MotoGP to return to his home country. In 2025, he praised Kyalami’s redevelopment, saying the circuit had done an “incredible job” with its track and facilities. Former MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow has also backed a return to Kyalami, provided the circuit can secure the funding needed to bring the championship back.

For now, any MotoGP race in Rwanda or elsewhere in Africa remains uncertain. The Rwandan tourism board is the main financial backer of F1’s plan, while the level of interest and available budget for a MotoGP event have yet to be established.