Let's talk MotoGP: There's a problem with Spain

It's gone somewhat under the radar, but Carmelo Ezpeleta has made some rather alarming comments about the Aragon Grand Prix. While he reaffirmed his love for Motorland and this region of Spain, he also stated that in the event of global expansion, the MotoGP championship might have to part ways with this track after 2026. What do you think? Is Aragon still up to scratch? Should it be sacrificed? An analysis is in order.

 

Logic worries

 

Ezpeleta, who we must thank for what he has brought to the motorcycle Grand Prix, is very intelligent. He knows that with the arrival of Liberty Media, MotoGP can explode internationally, and benefit from exposure similar to Formula 1. Personally, I believe that we will never be able to catch up with the single-seater championship in terms of popularity, but I still think there is potential.

 

 

With F1, we've seen the championship become more Americanized in recent years. Historic circuits are in danger: Spa-Francorchamps will only survive as an alternating event – ​​which is never a good sign – while Monaco, the jewel in the crown, is raising questions given the poor spectacle it offers. MotoGP could therefore be forced to part with its jewels and move to the USA or the Gulf countries..

This is where Aragon poses a question, and I completely understand Carmelo Ezpeleta's logic. Yes, it's an exceptional circuit, but Spain, with four races, has too much importance these days. This was of no consequence ten years ago, but we can no longer only have Spaniards and Italians – who, moreover, speak very poor English – at the highest level. It is also thanks to the emergence of drivers who are loved and appreciated all over the world that F1 is where it is, because it wants to be everywhere at once, not just focused on one country or region of the world.

This may sound crazy, but Our championship has never had such a Spanish accent.All the young talents who arrive come from this country, and, for the majority of them, from Catalonia. This is also visible in the promotion categories, by the way.In my opinion, this dynamic is absolutely incompatible with the growth apparently desired by senior decision-makers.

 

Aragon, the heart of the problem?

 

Now let's talk about the circuit, because it's true that Aragon has been the catalyst for these criticisms for several years. It's an easy target in the Iberian Peninsula, especially because the location isn't attractive. It is important to know that investors are targeting the “big markets”, large cities that are attractive for image, on the one hand, but also for business. This is particularly visible in F1, where development is centered around megacities, such as Miami, Las Vegas, Jeddah, Madrid, Abu Dhabi, and many others. In comparison, The Alcaniz desert, a town of 16 inhabitants, is not the stuff of dreams, you will agree. – from a purely business point of view, I have nothing against the landscape.

 

 

To be honest, I don't see what other track we could remove if we had to remove one from the calendar. Jerez is absolutely untouchable, it's too important a place for MotoGP and its history. There's also Valencia, but that circuit is connected to a fairly large city, as well as being of considerable importance for the World Championship, as it's where the final is held. Then there's Catalunya, linked to a truly great tourist destination and a culturally important region, from which the majority of pilots come.

Aragon is also the newest of the four tracks, introduced in 2010. It has never really managed to establish itself: the proof is that it was absent in 2023 and that didn't shock anyone; it was almost forgotten. The track is popular with the riders, and while it's true that the smaller class races are often exciting, there have been more purges than close battles in MotoGP. This is the fuse in Spain, without a doubt.

 

Conclusion

 

Let's answer this final question: Does Spain have too many circuits? I believe so, and that the end of this era is near.. If Liberty Media follows the same strategy as Formula 1, it will be unthinkable to have four – or even three – circuits in the same country. Personally, I would rather see Catalunya disappear than Aragon, but I am aware that Motorland's geographical location works against it; Valencia will follow if it is necessary to cut to the chase.

By the way, as an opening, I suggest you think about other circuits that might not survive a change of ownership. For example, I would be very surprised to see MotoGP racing on old European tracks, like the Sachsenring or Brno for another ten years, at the rate at which Liberty Media imposes its changes.

What do you think of the Aragon circuit, and above all, how would you reduce the Spanish influence in motorcycle Grand Prix racing? Tell us in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport