Ezpeleta stands firm on Oz GP change
Added on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Ezpeleta stands firm on Oz GP change
Pressure is mounting on Australian GP officials to move the date of the Australian Grand Prix, with MotoGP chief Carmelo Ezpeleta reaffirming that he is prepared to cancel the round if his demands aren’t met.
MotoGP promoter Dorna has been threatening to pull the event at Phillip Island unless it is brought forward from its current October slot after a series of weather problems in recent years.
Cool temperatures, wind and rain have all caused problems in recent years, with Dorna coming close to cancelling the event last season following heavy rain.
But Australian Grand Prix authorities have been reluctant to agree to a date change, fearing that the event would not be viable if it was to be moved closer to the Australian F1 Grand Prix, held in nearby Melbourne each March.
With doubts already surrounding the future of the F1 Grand Prix, with Bernie Ecclestone constantly pressuring race organisers for a night race to suit European TV schedules, speculation has suggested that an Australian ‘festival of speed’ could take place at Phillip Island, with the MotoGP Grand Prix taking place one week after the F1 Grand Prix.
Australian officials are also conscious of moving the MotoGP Grand Prix closer to Phillip Island’s other flagship event, the World Superbikes round which takes place in February.
But Ezpeleta has remained unrepentant in his demands, claiming that his threat to cancel the Australian Grand Prix will be cancelled after 2011 if the date is not changed.
“Ron Walker told me in an email that he would come back to me as soon as possible with dates for 2012,” Ezpeleta told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“In 2010, we were very close to cancelling the race. If all the weekend the weather was like Friday, which could happen, then we cannot run the event.
“This is the matter we are discussing, and it is not just the rain, but the problem at Phillip Island is rain and the cold and then the tyres are not up to temperature. The riders have strongly requested to us to change the date.
“Our position has not changed at all: We want the race moving to earlier in the year for 2012, and the corporation is aware of our position.”
