MotoGP could return to China for the first time since 2008. The last race took place at the Shanghai International Circuit, where famous riders like Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa won races. Rossi won in 2005 and again in 2008.

Reports from Motorsport.com say that MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports has already taken the first steps to make the Chinese Grand Prix come back. Dorna’s CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and his son Carlos, who works as sporting director, visited Shanghai earlier this year. According to Yahoo Sports, a Dorna executive delegation recently travelled to Shanghai to accelerate MotoGP’s return to the East Asian country.

During the trip, they inspected the Shanghai International Circuit and also visited the CFMoto motorcycle factory. Corsedimoto wrote that the Chinese brand could play an important role in bringing the race back. CFMoto has already been involved in Moto3 and is growing fast in racing and production. Some reports even said China is preparing a massive entry into MotoGP, not only with a race but also through a wider industrial and commercial strategy.

There were problems the first time MotoGP went to China. Although the original contract was meant to last until 2011, the last race was held in 2008. GPone.com explained that attendance was low and promotion was weak. The same source also said the image of the event was damaged because the former circuit director was convicted of embezzling money. These issues helped bring the first attempt to an early end.

Dorna now wants to avoid repeating these mistakes. GPone reported that the company plans a different organisational model, involving local businesses and partners, so promotion and management do not fall on only one group. This is expected to make the project stronger and more successful.

Rumours suggest the Chinese Grand Prix could return as early as 2027, but nothing has been confirmed yet. The plan still needs agreement with Chinese organisers and a good plan to guarantee strong fan support. The goal is to make sure MotoGP becomes much more popular in China than it was before.

Many in the MotoGP paddock believe that a return to China could help the sport grow a lot in Asia. With a huge population and a fast-growing motorcycle industry, China could bring many new fans and big business opportunities. But for the comeback to work, Dorna and its partners must show that racing in China can be exciting for the local audience.