Australian GP chiefs hit back at Dorna “posturing” over March switch
Added on Thursday, December 30th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Australian GP chiefs hit back at Dorna “posturing” over March switch
The organisers of the Australian Grand Prix have hit back at Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta, accusing the Dorna boss of “posturing” over threats to take MotoGP away from Phillip Island.
Andrew Westacott, Chief Executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, has hit back at Ezpeleta’s threats to quit Philip Island if the Australian Grand Prix is not brought forward to March, claiming that such a change is unworkable and unnecessary.
Ezpeleta told Motorcycle News that the Phillip Island Grand Prix would have to move from its current slot in October by 2012 or risk being removed from the calendar, after poor weather affected the 2010 Grand Prix.
“We understand because of the short notice, but for 2012 it [The Australian Grand Prix] will be at the beginning of the season,” he claimed.
“It must be at the beginning of the year because I think it is too risky later in the season.
“For 2012 it will be compulsory and the FIM will not homologate the circuit unless the race is at the beginning of the year. There can be no excuses in 2012.”
But Westacott says there are no plans to change the dates of the race and that a switch to March would cause a logistical nightmare because of a clash with the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.
“There’s a contract that Dorna have got that exists with us that says the race will be in September-October until 2016,” Westacott said.
“Carmelo has been suggesting this for a while on and off but we’ve never had a delayed race, never had a cancelled race.
“The vagaries of the weather exist all around the place at various times of the year.
“It’s not as easy as saying we’ll just slot it in in March. Marshalls and emergency services would also be doing potentially World Superbikes (in February), MotoGP testing at Phillip Island and the Formula One event.”
