Malaysia's Grand Prix has been cancel𓃲led for the past two seasons due to Covid restrictions, but MotoGP machines returned to Sepang ℱin February for the traditional pre-season tests.

Petronas, although no longer the main sponsor of any motorcycle grand prix teams following the clo𓃲sure of SRT, has signed on as title sponsor of its home race, tak🐎ing over from rival petroleum company Shell.

"We’re very happy to confirm that the Grand Prix of Ma🤪laysia will remain on the calendar until at least 2024," said Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. "Malaysia is a vital market for MotoGP and it is a pleasure to race at Sepang and witness the incredible passion of the fans who fill the gran♛dstands.

"After proving able to return to Malaysia for pre-season testing this year, we couldn’t be more eager to come back and race. We all look forward to the Grand Pri🥀x of Malaysia and seeing our Malaysian fans for many more seasons."

Sepang has been part of the MotoGP calendar since 1999, with spectator numꦦbers reaching 'sold-out' figures of 170,778 weekend fans (103,850 on race day) in 2019.

"Withඣ record breaking crowds year on year, we look forward to welcoming the fans back to Sepang after a two-year break due to the pandemic," said Azhan Shafriman Hanif, CEO of Sepang International Circuit. "In line with our #WelcomeHome theme, this year is about the revival of international motorsports with more unique offerings to the fans."

The big question will be how many of those Sepang fans return in the Covid (and post-Valentino Rossi) era, with the recent inaugural Mandalika round in Indonesia attℱract🏅ing a relatively modest 102,803 weekend fans (62,923 on race day).

Buriram in Thailand - the biggest event of the pre-Covid 201🍒9 season with 226,655 weekend spectators, 95,000 of them on rꦜace day - is the other South East Asian MotoGP round.