Singapore will host a Moto GP from as early as 2011 following its successful staging of a Formula One race this year, a report said Friday citing the sport’s boss Carmelo Ezpeleta.

Ezpeleta’s company, Dorna Sports, holds the commercial rights to MotoGP and has signed an agreement with an unnamed Singaporean company to stage a round of the 18-leg world championships.

“Yes, I can confirm that we have signed an agreement with a promoter to stage a round of the motorbike world championships in Singapore,” Ezpeleta told the Today newspaper.

“But it depends when the permanent track you are going to build will be completed. I understand it will be up in three years’ time, so you can have a race there as early as 2011, if not 2012.”

Unlike the Formula One Grand Prix Singapore held around its city streets in September, the bikes will race on a purpose-built track in the Changi area of the island.

Despite the difficult economic climate, Singapore Sports Council (SSC) chief executive officer Oon Jin Teik said that plans for the track have not changed.

“The Changi racetrack is a major component of SSC’s overall motor sports industry development plan in Singapore and it is intended to be funded by the private sector,” said Oon.

“The current financial climate will have an impact on the types and number of bidders that we will be able to attract. Nonetheless, it can only serve to improve their quality and proposals.”

Ezpeleta added that Asia was an important area for the sport’s future.

“Asia is important to MotoGP’s growth and Singapore is at the centre of it, that is why we want to hold a round there. But like I said, my agreement with the promoter in Singapore is subject to the track being built,” he said.

Asia will host three Moto GP next year — in Japan, Australia and Malaysia — although China has been axed from the calendar.

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