The Dorna company, with the top managers of MotoGP at the helm, announced this Friday afternoon the cancellation of the Valencia GP after long conversations with the promoters of the grand prix, which was to host the last event of the season at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, in Cheste. The situation in the province of Valencia and, specifically in the circuit and surrounding towns, heavily damaged by the dana that has devastated the region since Tuesday, has been key to deciding not to compete in the scenario scheduled for next November 17. MotoGP is now looking for alternatives to close the championship, while stating that it will not be raced in Valencia, but it will be raced for Valencia.
The pilots had spoken clearly this Friday about the ethical contradictions they observed in a decision of this magnitude. Pecco Bagnaia, defending champion and three-time world champion, was willing to sacrifice his fight for the title if necessary. “Even at the cost of losing the title, which is my ultimate goal, I am not willing to race in Valencia,” commented the Ducati mainstay, second in the table, 17 points behind the leader, the Spanish Jorge Martín. “I hope they take into account the fact that on an ethical level and with what is happening it is not the most correct thing to go there,” added the number one in the contest. His plan added even more pressure to the leaders of Dorna, the promoter of the World Championship, and the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM), who had initially stated that racing in Valencia was the priority option for all the actors involved… with the notable exception of the drivers and some teams.
“For me, it is a very delicate situation. Both for us, the pilots, and for Dorna. “Seeing what is happening, what we are seeing in Valencia, it is getting harder and sadder,” commented Martín, who is playing for his first MotoGP title. “It seems a little difficult for me to go to Valencia, it would be hard, but in the end, I depend on the decision that is made,” stated the Pramac driver. Davide Tardozzi, director of the official Ducati team, also made clear the vision of the factory that sets the pace in the premier category: “There are other priorities. I believe that MotoGP should help in another way, but not by going to do the race, but perhaps by doing something in the race that will take place I don’t know where, to help the Valencian Community.”
Although the opinion of the drivers was unanimous on Thursday, the majority delved into their respective theses this Friday after the first practice sessions of the Malaysian GP, dominated by Bagnaia, just 50 thousandths faster than Martín, once again the candidates close to one another. the other on the track. “I wouldn’t be talking about a grand prix in two weeks. I don’t see it as ethical, moral, or human. There is a catastrophe. It is no longer a question of money, we are talking about all the people who have died and lost everything,” pointed out Marc Márquez, another of the most heard voices of the contest. “But if we talk about racing there and helping, let’s be clear: the championship receives money for going to those circuits. Well, let it go to those affected,” concluded the eight-time world champion.
Both Dorna and the FIM initially stated that the regional government considered the dispute of the last event of the year in Valencia to be important, although they were already working with the idea that it would not take place as planned in the calendar (15-17 November). There was talk of moving the grand prix dispute at least one more week, even several, entering December. In a meeting of the safety commission this Friday, in which the drivers and the top officials of the championship participated, it was finally announced that the event would not be held in Valencia after confirming the rejection of the main protagonists. The Government of Spain, at that time, had not commented on the matter either.
After the meeting with the riders, and having updated the situation with the regional government led by Carlos Mazón, MotoGP sent its first official statement as a result of the tragedy, confirming the change of scenario and the desire that the profits from the event are allocated to rescue and reconstruction efforts in the affected territory. According to the organizers, it was the regional executive that decided to suspend the test. “After carefully considering the possible positive impact of postponing the MotoGP in Valencia against the need to not divert a single resource from recovery efforts due to the presence of MotoGP, the championship and local authorities have been forced to cancel the GP. of Valencia 2024″, they explained from Dorna.
“The championship will focus its collective efforts on supporting the relief funds already established, to ensure that their positive impact can connect with the region in the way that best serves the people and communities we have been a part of for so long. Our efforts will begin during the Malaysian GP and will continue in the final round of 2024,” they added. It is expected that in the next few hours, when the main logistical obstacles of the different scenarios on the table can be defined and resolved, it will be officially announced where the last grand prix of the season will be held. Although it will not be the Valencia GP, it will be the GP for Valencia.
