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Motorland Aragon Extends Contract through 2021, Pirro Replaces Baz

Motorland Aragon extended the contract with Dorna Sports for another five years, guaranteeing the presence of MotoGP races at least until 2021. Even though it's now too early to make an estimation, it looks like all the Spanish circuits are only too happy to retain premier class events.
The iconic Araagon Stone wall 1 photo
Photo: motogp.com
The contract extension with the circuit near Alcaniz maintains the number of Spanish events to four, with this country having the longest list of MotoGP events in the entire calendar. Grand Prix racing takes place in Spain at Jerez, Barcelona, Aragon, and Valencia.

In fact, the Motorland Aragon track is not exactly far from Barcelona and Valencia circuits, with the distance separating these three places on the road being roughly the same, around 250 km (155 miles).

The Aragon round was declared the Grand Prix of the year on no less than three occasions by a commission comprising members of the FIM, IRTA, the MSMA and Dorna. Last year, Motorland Aragon hosted almost 115,000 spectators, being one of the top venues in MotoGP, yet still short of the 120,000+ crowds that flock at the Brno circuit to see the Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Motorland is the first of the Spanish circuits that ink a contract extension, but it looks like the remaining three also have similar plans. Another country that hosted multiple Grand Prix rounds was the United States, who used to have three venues in the calendar, the Circuit of the Americas, Laguna Seca, and Indianapolis. Today, only the COTA is on the MotoGP list. last year's race trophy at Motorcland Aragon was designed with input from Yamaha's rider and 2015 World champion Jorge Lorenzo.

Michelle Pirro will substitute for Loris Baz at Barcelona

One of Ducati's test pilot will substitute for Avintia Racing's Loris Baz, but it will not be Casey Stoner. Michele Pirro will replace the injured Frenchman for the Grand Prix of Catalunya this weekend.

Pirro will thus ride the Ducati GP14.2, a bike that he already knows very well, as he also helped Borgo Panigale develop it, even though it's been around two years since he last rode it.

"The week will be challenging because until Wednesday, I am committed to Misano in a test with the Desmosedici GP; however I am ready . I hope to help as much as possible to do a good GP for the team. I wish Loris all the best to come back soon and in better shape because he has had a bad injury; also thanks to the Avintia team for this opportunity and Ducati for its increasingly strong support," Pirro adds.

The last time Pirro rode in a MotoGP race was at Mugello in the previous round of the championship. Pirro rode the Desmosedici GP "lab bike" and finished in the 10th position. He took the start in four races this year replacing Pramac's Danilo Petrucci, with the best finish being the 8th position at the COTA, in Austin, Texas.
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