Valencia, Spain, will host the final round of the MotoGP season until at least '21 after agreeing to a "new five-year deal with promoters Dorna." The Spanish city's Ricardo Tormo circuit has been on the calendar since '99 and "became the season-ender for the first time" in '02. This year's season-ending race is scheduled for Nov. 13 (REUTERS, 9/20).
WORLD AMATEUR: The Int'l Golf Federation announced that Hong Kong has been chosen to host golf's World Amateur Team Championships in '20. The women's event -- the Espirito Santo Trophy -- "will be played over the old and new courses in Hong Kong Golf Club and the men's -- the Eisenhower Trophy -- over the HKGC composite course and at Clearwater Bay." The events will be played in October (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 9/20).
EVENT BRIEFS ...
The UFC said that holding its next Melbourne fight night at a smaller stadium is "about putting fans first." The UFC is "returning to Melbourne, a year after its most high-profile fighter, Ronda Rousey, lost to former professional boxer Holly Holm at Etihad Stadium." With a capacity of 14,820, Rod Laver Arena is a "much smaller space than Etihad Stadium," but UFC Australia GM Tom Wright denied it had chosen the venue because this year's headliners Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza "did not share Rousey's popular appeal." Wright said that UFC was "increasing in popularity in Australia and the smaller arena would give fans a great view of the action" (THE AGE, 9/20).
Aussie MotoGP rider Jack Miller is injured, but he is "still making his mark, driving a boom in ticket sales for next month's Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island." Ticket sales are more than 22% higher "compared to this time last year, with hospitality, VIP and grandstand sales all up." Miller, 21, "broke through for his first MotoGP race in Holland in June in just his second year in the premier class, but injury has slowed his progress since" (HERALD SUN, 9/20).
