Youthstream has released an updated calendar for the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship, and it includes some big surprises.
First, let's start with the five fly-away races to begin the season. For the fourth consecutive season, the series opens under the lights in Qatar on February 27. The series then heads to Asia for two rounds beginning with the MXGP of Thailand on March 6 and then a first ever visit to Malaysia on March 13. The series then treks nearly ten thousand miles to South America for a second visit to Argentina, before heading to Mexico on April 3. Finally, the series heads to Europe for the first time on the season on April 17 for the MXGP of Europe at Valkenswaard.
Now, for the biggest shocker on the calendar: the penultimate round of the series heads to the United States—nope, not Glen Helen—but at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina on September 3. This NASCAR track actually hosted a round of AMA Supercross from 1996-1998, with an infield track similar to the Daytona Supercross. We're not yet sure what the GP track will look like.
America will host the final two rounds of the series, with Glen Helen hosting the finale for the second straight year on September 11.
Check out the entire 2016 schedule below.
2016 FIM Motocross World Championship
| DATE | GRAND PRIX | VENUE | ADDITIONAL RACES |
| February 27 | Grand Prix of Qatar | Losail | WMX |
| March 6 | Grand Prix of Thailand | Suphan Buri | |
| March 13 | Grand Prix of Malaysia | Sepang | |
| March 27 | Grand Prix of Patagonia – Argentina | Neuquen | |
| April 3 | Grand Prix of Leon – Mexico | Leon | |
| April 17 | Grand Prix of Europe | Valkenswaard | WMX |
| May 1 | Grand Prix of Latvia | Kegums | |
| May 8 | Grand Prix of Germany | Teutschenthal | WMX |
| May 15 | Grand Prix of Trentino | Pietramurata | |
| May 29 | TBA | TBA | |
| June 5 | Grand Prix of France | St. Jean d’Angély | WMX |
| June 19 | Grand Prix of Great Britain | Matterley Basin | |
| June 26 | Grand Prix of Lombardia – Italy | Mantova | WMX |
| July 24 | Grand Prix of Czech Republic | Loket | |
| July 31 | Grand Prix of Belgium (TBC) | Lommel | |
| August 7 | Grand Prix of Switzerland | Frauenfeld | WMX |
| August 28 | Grand Prix of the Netherlands | Assen | WMX, VMX |
| September 3 | Grand Prix of Americas | Charlotte Motor Speedway | |
| September 11 | Monster Energy Grand Prix of the USA | Glen Helen |
*: Saturday
Tba: to be announced
Tbc: to be confirmed
