MotoGP organisers remain keen on staging the 2024 season finale at Valencia but the date of the race could be pushed back, Motorsport.com understands.
Most of the paddock in Sepang at this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix is waiting to see how the rescue effort in Valencia evolves after the devastating flooding that had already left at least 158 dead by Friday morning, with a large number of people still missing.
Dorna’s executive leadership is working on various scenarios for the 20th and final stop on the calendar. The race was initially scheduled for Sunday 17 November at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, a venue located in an area badly affected by the storm.
So far, the only statement that can be considered official was given by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, to the AS newspaper on Thursday.
“In principle the original date [of the event] will be maintained. They are working to fix access and services. The track has not been damaged,” he said.
FIM president Jorge Viegas spoke briefly on this matter on Thursday, telling Sky Italia: “If we don’t race in Valencia, it will be worse for the Valencian Community and its economy.”
Circuit Ricardo Tormo after flooding
Photo by: Paco Alcobendas
Motorsport.com understands that the priority is to keep the race that would close the season in Valencia, although it is still not clear when the event would take place.
This is despite the fact that a wide range of alternatives have been rumoured in the last few days, many of them not taking into account important conditions required for hosting the event.
During the first official Moto2 practice on Friday morning, a delegation from the Teams’ Association (IRTA) met with the Ezpeleta to draw up a roadmap, with Valencia as the venue.
They are not ruling out running the event on the scheduled weekend, although they are also considering delaying the race by seven days, until Sunday 24 November, when, on paper, the track is due to host the final round of the FIM CEV Repsol World Championship.
MotoGP stakeholders are also not ruling out further postponing the title decider between Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia.
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Whatever option they decide on, it is clear that several initiatives will be organised with the intention of helping the victims of the tragedy.
There are those within the company itself who believe that postponing the grand prix but keeping its original location will not make much of a difference in terms of the image.
It is important to note that the final event is not limited to just a grand prix. Among other things, Valencia is due to host the annual awards gala, while a new corporate identity of MotoGP is also scheduled to be unveiled.
Both the FIM and Dorna are expected to make statements later on Friday.
During the weekend so far, many of the championship’s most famous riders were not keen on hosting the finale in Valencia, so as not to compromise any resources that could be used for emergency work.
The most explicit was Marc Marquez, who said: “Ethically speaking, I don’t think the Valencia Grand Prix should be held.”