Thailand is set to join the MotoGP World Championship schedule in 2018 with a round to be hosted at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram.

The venue, located in 400km north of the capital city Bangkok, has reportedly been chasing a deal to host MotoGP ever since it hosted its inaugural international event in 2015 with a round of the WorldSBK Championship.

With series organiser Dorna previously confirming to Crash.net that a 2018 Thai MotoGP was a 'possibility', Speedweek.com is now reporting the deal has been completed.

It is understood Dorna stipulated the venue must serve its three-year WorldSBK contract before seeking a round of MotoGP.

Once officially confirmed, it will make the Chang International Circuit the first all-new circuit to be added to the MotoGP schedule since Argentina's Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in 2014.

It will also take MotoGP to one of the motorcycle industry's biggest two-wheel markets. Approximately 80,000 spectators attended Chang's WorldSBK round in 2016, making it the best attended event on the calendar by more than 10,000 people (Imola 68,000)

Though only two brand new venues have debuted on the MotoGP schedule since 2013 - along with a return to Austria's Spielberg circuit last year - , a number of countries are understood to be seeking rounds, including Finland, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Hungary.

Of these, Finland had planned a bid for 2018 but is likely to now defer to 2019, along with the much discussed return to Indonesia.

As well as MotoGP, the Chang International Circuit is also set to receive a new deal to host WorldSBK and WorldSSP.



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