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The Cathedral of Speed is to remain on both MotoGP and WorldSBK championship calendars through the 2031 season. The iconic Dutch track today announced an extension of their contract which will see the Dutch TT round of MotoGP, and the Dutch round of WorldSBK at the circuit for the foreseeable future.

The contract extension is not really a surprise. Assen is the longest-running circuit on the MotoGP calendar, and before that, on international racing calendar, with a history that stretches all the way back to 1925. The race only stopped running during the Second World War, and for the Covid-19 hit 2020 MotoGP season. The track is a firm favorite with riders, and attracts massive crowds for both the MotoGP and WorldSBK events, with over 105,000 fans at the Dutch TT last year.

The Dutch round of MotoGP was never in danger of leaving Assen. There are no other circuits in The Netherlands suited to world championship motorcycle racing, and Assen is very much the home of MotoGP and WorldSBK in the country. And with Michael van der Mark starring in WorldSBK and Collin Veijer a rising star in Moto3, winning last week's Spanish GP in Jerez, interest in the sport is only likely to grow.

Press releases from both the MotoGP and WorldSBK championships appear below:

MotoGP™ to race at Assen until 2031

The legacy will continue as the TT Circuit Assen is confirmed to host the world’s most exciting sport for a further five seasons

Thursday, 02 May 2024

A new agreement between MotoGP™ and the TT Circuit Assen confirms the classic Dutch venue on the MotoGP™ calendar until 2031, extending its previous agreement that ran until 2026.

Assen is a fan favourite thanks to its incredible layout, fantastic atmosphere and unique final chicane, the latter of which has been the stage for many of the sport’s most iconic moments, then and now. It’s also MotoGP™s longest-serving venue, having hosted Grand Prix motorcycle racing since the inaugural 1949 season – a unique feat on the modern calendar.

2025 will be another milestone year as Assen celebrates the centenary of the very first TT. Nearly a century after the event began and 75 years since Grand Prix racing first visited the area, the permanent TT Circuit Assen of today only continues to build its legend, maintaining the spirit that fuelled its origins but reimagining it into a modern, safe and spectacular racetrack.

Arjan Bos, Chairman of TT Circuit Assen: "We are incredibly pleased with this contract extension, especially now that MotoGP is developing strongly. It reaffirms the status of the TT Assen as a highlight on the MotoGP calendar. We are proud to continue building the future of motorsport together."

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP™ rights holder Dorna Sports: "We’re very happy to announce Assen’s long-term future on the calendar. It was part of the very first season of Grand Prix racing in 1949 and nowhere else has been with us across these 75 years of racing we celebrate in 2024. That’s unique, but we don’t return only for the history or statistics. Racing at Assen, even 100 years after the first races held in the area, is still something special and it only gets better. It’s a fantastic, modern venue that continues to gives us incredible races and iconic moments, and there is no better mixture than the world’s most exciting sport racing at one of its greatest venues."

WorldSBK and TT Circuit Assen extend partnership until 2031

Following the thrilling 2024 Pirelli Dutch Round, the TT Circuit Assen and WorldSBK are delighted to announce the extension of their agreement, securing the venue as a host circuit until 2031. This extension promises continued excitement for motorsport fans and ensures a Dutch Round in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship calendar for a further six years.

The 2024 event attracted 56,734 attendees over three days, showcasing the circuit's appeal and its importance to the community and the championship. The Dutch Round remains a pivotal event, especially for home-grown talents like Michael van der Mark, Jeffrey Buis, and up-and-coming riders such as Loris Veneman, and Glenn van Straalen, the latter clinching his first WorldSSP victory this year.

The agreement builds on a strong tradition of racing at the TT Circuit Assen, known affectionately as the ‘Cathedral of Speed’. Having hosted WorldSBK since 1992, the circuit’s role is further underscored with the renewed commitment with MotoGP™, also extended until 2031. This double commitment underlines TT Circuit Assen’s prominent role in both world-class motorcycle racing championships.

Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director:

"We are proud to announce the continuation of TT Circuit Assen as a staple venue in the WorldSBK calendar through 2031. TT Circuit Assen, with its rich history and thrilling racing, remains an essential part of the WorldSBK heritage. We are excited to keep delivering outstanding racing experiences to our fans."

Arjan Bos, Chairman of TT Circuit Assen:

“WorldSBK is such an important fixture on our calendar. Because of the constant interaction with the fans, young and old, we can continue to grow our fanbase for motorsport in general. World Superbike always gets a lot of appreciation from riders and public alike. We are very proud to continue as a location for this major event.”