Changes to the MotoGP calendar for 2013

[Jami6989]

Interesting to see all the changes that are about to happen and somewhat surprised that Spain is giving up a race given they are the center of the racing World. Love the idea of shortening the offseason so India would be a great addition. And I can't wait to see where Austin fits into the calendar! Hopefully they will finally do away with one or both of the Indy/Laguna weekends.

Jerez To Stay On Calendar For 2013, Valencia, Estoril Candidates To Be Dropped | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Jerez To Stay On Calendar For 2013, Valencia, Estoril Candidates To Be Dropped


Submitted by David Emmett on Mon, 2012-04-16 12:23
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• MotoGP
• Estoril, Portugal
• Valencia, Spain

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Jerez is to remain on the MotoGP calendar for at least one more year. Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta announced the extension during the official presentation in Madrid of this year's Spanish GP at the iconic Jerez circuit, stating that Jerez will stay on the calendar for 2013. He also confirmed that from next year, there will be just 3 races on the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal), with Jerez and Aragon certain to stay, while Barcelona and Valencia could alternate, as is currently being proposed for Formula 1. The Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril appears destined to disappear from the calendar.
Rumors surrounding the fate of the Jerez Grand Prix had been circulating for a while, with the circuit still in financial problems over non-payment of debts to the consortium which carried out remodelling work at the circuit back in 2001. It was widely expected that Jerez would be dropped from the calendar, but sources close to the circuit owners were confident of being able to continue. Though the official confirmation is only for 2013, the chances of the race remaining at the track for the next five years look very good.

With Jerez confirmed, and Aragon holding both a long-term contract and having the finances in place to continue to host the race - Ezpeleta confirmed to the Spanish press that Aragon would also remain on the calendar - the location of the third Spanish race remains uncertain. Both Valencia and Barcelona are keen to remain, but both races face financial difficulty due to local government budget constraints, as Spain continues to suffer under the Euro debt crisis that wracks the continent, and Spain in particular. The situation of Barcelona is stronger than Valencia - the Valencia regional government facing much tougher budget cuts - but a solution could be found similar to the one being put in place for Formula One, with the race alternating between Barcelona and Valencia every other year. The solution would be ideal if coordinated with Bernie Ecclestone and the Formula One Management organization, with F1 and MotoGP swapping races, ensuring that both Valencia and Barcelona have a Grand Prix each year, alternating between the two-wheeled and four-wheeled variety.

Ezpeleta also hinted at changes around the start of the season. Dorna is keen to start the MotoGP season earlier, but the night race at Qatar makes that a tricky proposition, as the temperatures in the desert cause dew to form on the track surface around the time of the race in March. But with Dorna keen to break into new markets, and with support from the manufacturers - as confirmed to MotoMatters by Yamaha Racing boss Lin Jarvis in a recent interview - India looks set to gain a place on the calendar, and given the heat on the subcontinent in summer, the season could easily start at the Buddh International Circuit near Delhi. Though the Dorna CEO did not confirm it, when Spanish media suggested that Delhi could take the place of Qatar as the first race of the year, Ezpeleta merely indicated that they were "thinking along the right lines".

The calendar would make sense in terms of logistics as well. With Doha airport functioning as a major freight hub between Europe and Asia, holding the first race in Delhi, followed by a second race at the Losail circuit in Qatar, before heading back to Europe - probably to Jerez - looks like a viable schedule. Despite losing its place as the season opener, the Qatar race would remain a night race, thereby retaining its unique character.

The major question mark over Qatar losing its place as season opener would be how that would affect the sanctioning fee the circuit pays. If the QMMF - which owns the Losail circuit - decides that its value has been eroded by losing the spotlight of the season opener, it may decide to reduce the amount it is prepared to pay. Though no official figures are available, the sanctioning fee for Qatar is believed to be sizable, one source revealing to MotoMatters.com that it was sufficient to cover the overseas logistics budget for the entire season. The organizers of the Indian GP would have to be prepared to make up the shortfall, should that be the case.

[banda]

That Qatar sanctioning fee thing is fascinating. I'd like to see them race at Portimao - that's a neat facility that makes for good racing.

[Jami6989]

Originally Posted by banda

That Qatar sanctioning fee thing is fascinating. I'd like to see them race at Portimao - that's a neat facility that makes for good racing.

Kinda makes you wonder what the financial situation would be for Dorna if Qatar wasn't paying them way more than they deserve.

[Jami6989]

The last bit about the seizure of the HRC bikes is odd?

Plenty of headaches for Ezpeleta


Friday, 20 April 2012 12:14 by Ernesto Emmi








It seems like Carmelo Ezpeleta and Dorna will never get to relax. After finding a short term solution to MotoGP's tragic grid sizes with the new CRT sub-category, the Spanish manager must now overcome several obstacles in putting together the 2013 calendar.
During the Jerez test he mentioned that at least one of the races on the Iberian Peninsula would be dropped, and while most people assumed that would be a Spanish round, it looks like the Portuguese Grand Prix might actually be the one eliminated. If that doesn't happen, Dorna might ask Barcelona and Valencia to alternate years. But why all this rearranging in the first place?
It's all motivated by the arrival of the Texas GP in Austin, an Indian round, and finally the race in Argentina. Three GP's which, for one reason or another, have yet to be confirmed.
There continues to be considerable confusion surrounding the Austin project, and race organizers have yet to sign a contract for an F1 round. Should their deal with the major car racing series fall through, it would also cast serious doubt on a MotoGP race. In India there is considerable good will and desire to host a round, but not much else, while in Argentina the situation has become incredibly complicated thanks to the government's expropriation of YPF Repsol.
The Spanish oil giant generated roughly one fifth of their revenues in the South American country, but the Argentinean authorities accused them of abusing the local economy to compensate for the European recession. According to president Cristina Kirchner, Repsol wasn't investing in research, has closed roughly 3,000 filling stations, and continuously reduced their crude production over the last 14 years.
Amid a situation like this one, it's understandable that the Repsol Honda team would be reluctant to race in Argentina, where (supposedly) they might also risk seizure of their bikes.


Read more: Plenty of headaches for Ezpeleta