Sepang extends MotoGP contract to 2021 - MotorSportsTalk

The Sepang International Circuit will continue to welcome MotoGP until 2021 after agreeing a new five-year contract with the series commercial rights holder, Dorna Sports.

Sepang has hosted MotoGP since 1999 and is witnessing a surge in popularity for the premier motorcycle racing championship, with the 2016 race being a sell-out event.

Following qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang on Saturday, officials from the circuit announced that a new contract extension had been agreed that ensured MotoGP would continue to visit the track for years to come.

“I am happy to inform that we have signed a contract extension for another five years, ending 2021, that was completed this morning,” Tan Sri Azman Yahya, chairman of Sepang International Circuit, said.

“We will continue with MotoGP for the next five years, and think we will see even better response from the public.

“I’m very pleased to announce this as it’s my first negotiation as the Chairman of Sepang, and I hope our decision is supported and welcomed.”

“We have been here since 1999 and it has been a long road together,” Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta added.

“We’re extremely proud of the Malaysian GP, the increasing spectator numbers and the incredible spectacle. We are proud to renew for at least these five years.”

The contract renewal comes just days after officials from the Sepang circuit and the Malaysian government called for the track to stop hosting Formula 1 due to its expense and falling ticket sales.

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The IndyCar Series has re-signed NTT as its title sponsor in a multiyear agreement starting in 2024.

NTT, a global information technology and communications company based in Japan, became the series’ title sponsor before the 2019 season after starting as a sponsor of the No. 10 Dallara-Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

NTT Data (a subsidiary of parent company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.) will remain the official technology partner of IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Brickyard weekend.

With the extension, an IndyCar spokesman said NTT would become the second-longest title sponsor in series history. The longest title sponsor was PPG from 1980-97 (under the CART sanction of the Champ Car Series).

NTT replaced Verizon, which was IndyCar’s title sponsor from 2014-18 after IZOD from 2010-13.

“NTT is an excellent partner across our enterprise with strong expertise and a deep commitment to our sport,” Penske Corp. chairman and IndyCar owner Roger Penske said in a release. “From Smart Venue technology at the Racing Capital of the World to the reimagined Series mobile application, NTT is transforming the fan experience in new and innovative ways. We look forward to a bright future together.”

NTT has used artificial intelligence-enabled optical detection technology at IMS to provide information to the track’s operations and security teams, helping improve fan traffic flow and safety, the track said.

“IndyCar is a great partner for NTT Data because of our shared commitment to driving innovation, increasing sustainability and delivering amazing experiences,” NTT Data CEO Kaz Nishihata said in a release. “We also appreciate how IndyCar is so diverse, with drivers from 15 different countries, and races that range from short ovals and superspeedways to road and street courses. It’s both an incredible sport and a wonderful example for our world.”

NTT also has been instrumental in helping redesign the IndyCar app and providing more race and driver data for use in NBC Sports’ broadcasts by utilizing 140 data points from every car in the field.

“NTT is fully invested in the development and growth of our sport and has already established a terrific track record in our industry with problem-solving capabilities and access to top talent and tools,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said.

Said NTT Data Services CEO Bob Pryor: “We’re thrilled to continue our collaborations that enhance and expand the fan experience for motorsports and serve as proof points for data analytics, AI, and other innovative digital technologies. For more than a century, this racing series has pioneered innovations making driving safer for everyone, and by continuing this relationship, we will accelerate the pace of innovations and new technologies, particularly related to sustainability that ultimately can benefit organizations, communities and individuals around the world.”

Starting as a Japanese telephone company, NTT grew into a $100 billion-plus tech services giant with U.S. operations based in Plano, Texas.