The major crisis facing the Grand Prix paddock imposed by a coronavirus pandemic which has put the planet under its yoke was well worth a round table with the boss of Dorna, Carmelo Ezpeleta. The Spaniard also revealed himself in these difficult times as a war leader dubbed by his flock. Because he is not a driver or a team director who today challenges his anticipation and his management in the face of serious events. The goal is to have a 2020 season. Who will start when? To go where ? Carmelo responds…
A few weeks ago, we feared a white season, then we saw the horizon clear up in Austria and a Red Bull Ring that Formula 1 announced that he wanted to conquer the July 5. The signal was given and the MotoGP could do less than think about also launching his own hostilities, to the great joy of his paddock currently under perfusion.
But there's even better. While the month of August seemed promised for the first Grand Prix, the idea of Jerez on July 19 arose. A fantasy? Carmelo Ezpeleta answers : " if we can start before Brno and Austria, and we are considering this possibility, we will start in Spain. That's the idea. We think that in the third or fourth week of May we will be able to present a schedule if the situation is a little clearer. »
The boss of Dorna therefore do not speak openly about Jerez, but only from Spain, and he also reminds that everything remains under the threat of a second wave of contamination by Covid-19, feared shortly after the deconfinement in each country. A perennial concern in Spain, which has been particularly affected by this pandemic.
Outside of Europe, no salvation?
For the moment, the MotoGP promoter is exclusively planning Grands Prix in Europe from the summer, possibly with several races on one track. “ From July to November we want to do ten to eleven races in Europe ", said Ezpeleta. There could be two weekends in a row of racing, followed by a weekend of rest.
« In September we will communicate if races outside Europe are possible ", said Ezpeleta, keeping this option open. But he is pessimistic: “ races outside Europe are not possible without spectators, because without spectators the promoters do not pay entry fees. We should do it at our own expense. »
« Racing without income is difficult to do outside of Europe. This is the situation. If promoters outside of Europe could do the Grand Prix with spectators, or could pay us compensation, then we would be able to do it », Explains the MotoGP director.
The high cost of shopping abroad is a key factor in difficult economic times. In Europe, everything can be transported by road. “ The championship may therefore consist of ten or eleven races in Europe, or perhaps 14, but we will only communicate this in September, and not later ", ended Ezpeleta.
