Faced with the storm of criticism surrounding the management of the 2026 Catalan Grand Prix, the head of MotoGP has decided to speak out. In an exclusive interview with the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, firmly defended the current championship model, the level of track safety, and the highly controversial decision to restart the race three times despite widespread alarm.
While admitting that the paddock narrowly avoided absolute disaster this Sunday, the Spanish manager countered on motosan an implacable regulatory and commercial logic overriding the feelings of drivers and team managers.
When asked about the violence of the crashes that sent Alex Marquez et Johann zarco at the hospital, Ezpeleta He did not hide the fact that he had feared the worst, while completely exonerating the infrastructure of the Montmelò circuit:
« Due to its characteristics, The Circuit de Catalunya is a very safe circuit for motorcycle racing.Accidents happen, and this weekend was difficult. I think we were lucky. When I saw the first images of Alex, I was very worried. […] As for Johann, it was just a twist of fate.If he had simply fallen without getting his leg caught in Bagnaia's wheel, he would not have been seriously injured. »
The boss of Dorna confessed that managing injuries remained the most painful aspect of his job: It's terrible. After spending so many weeks together, we form very close bonds. Finally, it's one of my friends who is injured. »
While Charles Pernat et Massimo Rivola they cry foul over the amateurishness of the commissioners and demand harsher sanctions (particularly against Peter Acosta ou Raul Fernandez), Ezpeleta was keen to reiterate a golden institutional rule. Since the infamous clash between Valentino Rossi et Marc Marquez In 2015, Dorna completely severed ties with sports authorities to avoid any conflict of interest:
« Since the incident between Valentino and Marquez at Sepang, we have withdrawn from all involvement to avoid any suspicion of interference in race direction for commercial purposes. Therefore, We are neither part of the jury nor the race management.. »
Three different departures? Carmelo Ezpeleta explains: The audience is an essential element; we must not stop »
The most contentious point of the interview concerns the continuation of the race after two red flag interruptions, a psychologically exhausting situation which caused dizziness in Pecco Bagnaia and the anger ofApriliaIn response to criticism, Ezpeleta proves to be inflexible and pragmatic:
« It's complicated, because instinctively, we too want to stopBut we mustn't stop. If the track is usable and the riders are performing well, the race must continue, because the spectators are an essential element of the success of the MotoGP World Championship. There is no rule prohibiting three re-raises. »
The words of Carmelo Ezpeleta are displaying a cold, managerial approach that risks alienating the drivers. By loudly proclaiming that "the public is an essential element" to justify the strict application of the three-start rule, the CEO of Dorna reminds us of a stark truth: MotoGP is a globalized spectacle that responds to extremely demanding television broadcasting and ticketing requirements.
However, hiding behind "luck" and to describe Zarco's leg getting caught in a rear wheel as a mere "stroke of bad luck" is a perilous exercise in communication. While Liberty Medium While gradually taking control of the discipline, this purely show-oriented approach shows its limitations when the health of the main players is at stake.
The pilots wanted empathy and structural reforms; Carmelo Ezpeleta They respond with the civil code of sport. The truce before Mugello The atmosphere is expected to be heated in the offices of the security commission.
