Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Dorna Sports, which organizes the FIM MotoGP World Championship series, has announced an agreement that will bring the MotoGP series to China in 2004, say sources in Europe.

A new, multi-year agreement between Dorna Sports, China Grand Prix Bureau and the China Panthere Corporation will start construction of a brand new racing facility in the Yanqing province of China, approximately 25 miles from Peking and within sight of the Great Wall of China. The report says the facility will have a spectator capacity of 500,000 people, will be ready and homologated within one year and will hold its first race in 2004.

The deal will see MotoGP races broadcast on public television in China starting with the Czech Republic Grand Prix in August, 2002.