NEW DELHI: A huge controversy marred the eagerly awaited debut of MotoGP in India when a distorted map of the country, excluding Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, was displayed during a live stream of the prestigious motorcycle racing event on Friday.Social media users quickly flagged the error, leading to a swift response from MotoGP on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, where they issued an apology for the oversight."We'd like to apologise to our fans in India for the map shown earlier as 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 loving our first taste of the Buddh International Circuit," they added.On the sporting front, practice sessions for all classes - Moto 2, Moto 3, and MotoGP - were scheduled for Friday, setting the stage for intense competition.

Qualifying rounds were slated for Saturday, with the main races eagerly anticipated on Sunday.India's hosting of this motorsport event is a landmark moment, marking the country's return to such a prestigious event for the first time since the 2013 Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix.

The F1 event was dropped from the calendar due to various issues, including financial, taxation, and bureaucratic challenges.In a significant development, Dorna, the organisers of MotoGP, and Fairstreet have signed a seven-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for hosting the MotoGP race in India, indicating a long-term commitment to the country's motorsport scene.Earlier this month, the Uttar Pradesh government allocated a fund of Rs 8 crore to its 'Invest UP' department for the MotoGP event following a proposal from Fairstreet Sports.

The allocation was aimed at enhancing the event's infrastructure and ensuring a smooth experience for participants and spectators alike.

Additionally, the local authorities worked on beautification and road repair projects on the connecting routes leading to the Buddh International Circuit, further signalling their commitment to the success of the event.(With PTI inputs)