Provisional 2012 MotoGP calendar revealed

The season will again kick off in Qatar at night on 15 April, and that will be followed by back-to-back races at Jerez and Estoril, although both events are subject to the contracts, FIM said.

Valencia will close the season in November.

The United States and Indianapolis Grands Prix will take place one after the other, but with three weeks in between them.

The German Grand Prix in July appears as subject to a contract, but also without a circuit assigned to it, with speculation suggesting Sachsenring could lose the event to another circuit next year.

Despite doubts about its future, the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island is also on the provisional calendar.

The Japanese Grand Prix has secured an October slot. The race was scheduled for April this year but was moved to October because of the tsunami.

Provisional 2012 calendar

15 April        Qatar*              Doha/Losail
29 April        Spain (STC)         Jerez de la Frontera
6 May           Portugal (STC)      Estoril
20 May          France              Le Mans
3 June          Catalunya           Catalunya
17 June         Great Britain       Silverstone
30 June         Netherlands**       Assen
8 July          Germany (STC)       TBC
15 July         Italy               Mugello
29 July         United States***    Laguna Seca
19 August       Indianapolis        Indianapolis
26 August       Czech Rep.          Brno
16 September    San Marino          Misano
30 September    Aragon              Motorland
14 October      Japan               Motegi
21 October      Malaysia            Sepang
28 October      Australia           Phillip Island
11 November     Valencia            Ricardo Tormo

*  Evening race
** Saturday Race
*** Only MotoGP class
STC (Subject to the contract)
TBC (To be confirmed)