The MotoGP world championship will include a race in Austria from 2016, after an agreement was reached to hold an event at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

Confirmation of the deal came at last weekend's MotoGP event in Valencia, the last race of the 2014 season, with Dorna chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta pictured with Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

A brief statement posted on the MotoGP website said Dorna, which holds MotoGP's commercial rights, would 'propose the inclusion of the Grand Prix to the FIM [world motorcycling's governing body] to be scheduled in the 2016 season.’

Austria last staged a Grand Prix motorcycling event in 1997, one of two races staged at the A1-Ring, which has since been revamped and renamed the Red Bull Ring, following the energy drink giant's acquisition of the venue.

Another circuit, the Salzburgring, staged an Austrian Grand Prix between 1971 and 1996.

The Red Bull Ring returned to the Formula One calendar this year, hosting a well-received Grand Prix in June.