Qatar GP officially postponed as Portugal and Valencia rescheduled

As uncertainty over the stability of the Middle East continues, the Qatar Grand Prix, which was initially booked for the 10 - 12 April, has been moved to the 6 - 8 November weekend instead.

This will mean that the race will fit in just behind the Malaysian Grand Prix and will push both Portugal and Valencia further back to the 20 - 22nd November and 27 - 29 November respectively.

The new schedule will open a four week gap between the USA Grand Prix at Cota and the first European round in Jerez on April 24 - 26.

The alterations could have dramatic consequences for the season at the results of the Qatar race itself could now have major implications for the outcome of the championship.

The news follows several weeks of speculation about races in the Middle East and the recent announcement that Formula 1 have cancelled their upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races.

The revised MotoGP calendar will make the latter stages of the season all the more intense as the riders will have to complete a total of seven race weekends in just two months during October and November.

The closing rounds of the season will also see MotoGP wave goobye to the legendary Phillip Island circuit, a staple of the calendar for nearly 30 years.

In its place next year will be an experimental Adelaide Street Circuit - the first street circuit in use since 1981.