PUBLISHED: 3 Apr 2025 at 19:25
The Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) clarified recent speculation regarding disagreements with coalition leader Pheu Thai, asserting that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Thursday visit to Buri Ram—a significant area for BJT—did not serve as a political maneuver.
According to BJT secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob, the coalition’s unity remains intact. He stated that co-founder Newin Chidchob’s act of welcoming the prime minister and guiding her around the Chang International Circuit was purely an expression of hospitality without any political implications.
Mr. Chaichanok emphasized that Buri Ram welcomes all visitors, irrespective of their political affiliations.
During her visit, Ms. Paetongtarn launched a government workshop aimed at provincial development, accompanied by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior interior officials.
Mr. Chidchob highlighted Chang International Circuit as a prime example of effective event management, emphasizing its focus on enhancing spectator experience and maintaining affordable ticket prices.
He also asserted that discussions regarding renewing Thailand’s MotoGP hosting contract were not part of the agenda during the prime minister’s visit.
It was noted that any future decisions on hosting MotoGP events would focus on economic factors, as affirmed by both the prime minister and the tourism and sports minister.
Concerns have emerged about the government’s intentions to withdraw sponsorship from the MotoGP Grand Prix, particularly after Mr. Newin’s recent Facebook post suggested that the contract with the Sports Authority of Thailand would not be renewed after next year’s race.
When questioned about her meeting with Mr. Newin and its implications for party relations, Ms. Paetongtarn remarked, “We’ve never been in conflict to begin with.”
The government initially signed a contract to host the MotoGP GP at Chang International Circuit from 2018 to 2020, with an annual fee of 300 million baht. This contract was subsequently extended until 2025, with the annual fee increasing to 324 million baht.
This year’s event, the 2025 PT Grand Prix of Thailand, took place from February 28 to March 2, attracting 224,624 spectators—a record turnout for the circuit—and generating an economic impact of 5.04 billion baht for Buri Ram and adjacent areas.
