Thai MotoGP bid runs out of track as Thailand hits the brakes
Chang International Circuit chairman Newin Chidchob expressed his disappointment on Facebook that the Thai government has decided not to extend the MotoGP contract in 2027.
Newin took to his Facebook account, ลุงเนวิน (meaning Uncle Newin), to inform Thai MotoGP fans that the event would be held at Chang International Circuit for the last time in 2026 unless the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Cabinet reconsiders renewing the MotoGP contract.
Newin stated that MotoGP is one of the best motorcycle racing events and among the most-watched sports programmes in the world. More than one billion people watched the race from 200 countries worldwide, and Thailand is among 22 countries with the opportunity to host it.
He pointed out that Thailand had hosted the MotoGP race for seven consecutive years and, this year, the country was honoured to open the competition.
The event took place on February 28 and concluded yesterday, March 2. Newin stated that this three-day event generated more than 5 billion baht in revenue for the country.
Newin highlighted that he offered the circuit to the government to host the event free of charge every year. While he did not earn directly from the event, he and other businesses in the province benefited indirectly from hotel bookings, dining, and tourist attractions visited by both Thai and foreign spectators.
Conflict in coalition parties
The chairman added that his company even incurred an annual loss of 10 million baht in offering the circuit to the government to prepare and host the event for a month.
Newin stated that he was willing to do so as it generated income for the country and raised Buriram’s profile on the international stage. Unfortunately, the government decided not to extend the contract with the competition in 2027.
Newin said he had to accept the official decision because MotoGP’s main organiser required government involvement in hosting the event. He could not support the event himself after the contract expired following the rules.
Newin was not the only one disappointed. Many Thai netizens expressed their regrets in the comments section. Some criticised the government for lacking vision, while others speculated that the government planned to invest the budget in an F1 event initiated by former Prime Minister (PM) Srettha Thavisin.
Others suspected that the government, under PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, did not want to support a project spearheaded by Newin, one of the founding members of the Bhumjaithai Party.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party was previously believed to conflict with the Bhumjaithai Party over differing views on constitutional reform. However, the Thai PM and Bhumjaithai Party leader and Deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul denied any such conflict.
MotoGP or F1
Following Newin’s announcement and the online debate, PM Paetongtarn addressed the matter today, March 3. She confirmed that Thailand still could host MotoGP in 2027. The decision was under review by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
The 38 year old prime minister stated that she would ask the ministry to present the event’s budget and revenue to the Cabinet for consideration before deciding on the contract renewal.
When asked whether the contract would be cancelled because of Newin, PM Paetongtarn denied this, insisting that her focus was on the country’s best interests. She emphasised her commitment to continuing any projects that benefited the people.
The Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), Kongsak Yodmanee, echoed the PM’s statement, saying that Thailand had not yet confirmed the termination of the MotoGP contract. However, the budget and other relevant factors remained under discussion.
When asked whether MotoGP would be discontinued if Thailand secured the rights to host an F1 race, Kongsak responded.
“It might not be like that.”
He explained that the relevant departments would need to present the budget and supporting data to the Cabinet before any final decision was made.
Latest Thailand News
