'It is never our intent': MotoGP apologises for showing distorted map of India

MotoGP has issued an apology for displaying a purportedly distorted map of India during its live streaming of the practice session for the IndianOil Grand Prix of India at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida on Friday.The distorted map of India had Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh missing from it.Within hours of the matter being flagged by some social media users, MotoGP on its official account on X, formerly Twitter, posted an apology for the gaffe."We'd like to apologise to our fans in India for the map shown earlier a part of the MotoGP broadcast. It is never our intent to make any statement other than that of support and appreciation for our host country," MotoGP stated."We're excited to be able to enjoy the IndianOil Grand Prix of India with you and we're with you and we're loving our first taste of Buddh International Circuit," it added.Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) president Akbar Ebrahim was in the race control room when the embarrassing gaffe was brought to his notice."It is highly regrettable that an erroneous map of India was broadcast by MotoGP TV today during the telecast of Grand Prix of India. We are aware that MotoGP have issued a public apology."The FMSCI advises its motorsports affiliates to be extremely careful and correct on the depiction of the India Map and Indian Tricolor," said Ebrahim.India are hosting an event of this magnitude for the first time since the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix, which was dropped from the calendar following the 2013 season due to financial, taxation and bureaucratic issues.Dorna and Fairstreet have signed a seven-year MoU for the MotoGP race in India.Earlier this month, the Uttar Pradesh government released a fund of Rs 8 crore to its department 'Invest UP' for the MotoGP after a proposal from Fairsreet Sports, according to an official statement of the local Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority.With PTI inputs