The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will retain its mid-October slot following the release of MotoGP’s 2017 provisional calendar.

The schedule is largely unchanged from this year with 18 events, beginning at Qatar from March 26 and ending at Valencia on November 12.

The Phillip Island round of the world championship is set to be held from October 20-22.

This year’s Australian Grand Prix clashes with Supercars’ Castrol Gold Coast 600 and it remains to be seen if the event will collide with the touring car category again next season.

Rounds in Malaysia and Great Britain are listed as provisional pending contract talks.

MotoGP had been working on plans to add Thailand and Indonesia to its schedule but neither have come to fruition.

However, the calendar could be set for a change in 2018 with the emergence of a Finnish round at the new KymiRing circuit.

MotoGP 2017 Provisional Calendar

Round 1 – Qatar GP, Losail – March 24-26
Round 2- Argentinian GP, Termas de Rio Hondo – April 7-9
Round 3 – GP of the Americas, Austin – April 21-23
Round 4 – Spanish GP, Jerez – May 5-7
Round 5 – French GP, Le Mans – May 19-21
Round 6 – Italian GP, Mugello – June 2-4
Round 7 – Catalunya GP, Barcelona – June 9-11
Round 8 – Dutch TT, Assen – June 23-25
Round 9 – German GP, Sachsenring – July 14-16
Round 10 – Czech GP, Brno – August 4-6
Round 11 – Austrian GP, Red Bull Ring – August 11-13
Round 12 – British GP, Silverstone – August 25-27
Round 13 – San Marino GP, Misano – September 8-10
Round 14 – GP of Aragon – September 22-24
Round 15 – Japanese GP, Motegi – October 13-15
Round 16 – Australian GP, Phillip Island – October 20-22
Round 17 – Malaysian GP, Sepang – October 27-29
Round 18 – GP of Valencia – November 10-12