Hungarian GP to be cancelled
Added on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Hungarian GP to be cancelled
The 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix is to be postponed until 2010 due to construction delays after event promoters submitted a request to cancel the event.
The event, due to host round 15 of the MotoGP championship on September 20, now looks certain to be removed from the MotoGP calendar after construction work at the new, purpose built Balatonring was hit by a series of delays and disputes with Spanish contractors.
That has prompted event promoters Balatonring Zrt have submitted a request to MotoGP organisers Dorna to postpone the event until 2010, which has been agreed and will be submitted to the FIM to be rubberstamped.
A statement on the MotoGP.com website read: “The decision to move back the September 20th race owes to a delay in construction schedule for the new Balatonring Circuit which would mean that it would not be completed in time, a result of a harsh winter and the financial situation that has hit Hungary and affected the funding process. The track is still in the early stages of construction following the laying of the first stone late last year.
“All parties involved (Balatonring Zrt., Share Capital, the Hungarian government and Dorna) remain committed to the project of bringing MotoGP to Hungary. The building process will continue with a view to an inaugural race at Balatonring in 2010, and the track has a five-year agreement to host MotoGP races.”
The cancellation is the latest in a series of setbacks this winter, with the MotoGP calendar now facing a cut to 17 rounds. As of yet, no replacement venue has been discussed although the cancellation will leave a four week gap between the San Marino and Portuguese Grand Prix.
