Carmelo Ezpeleta – Dorna Sports CEO – Interview
Following the recent updates to the 2020 MotoGP calendar, Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta sat down to talk about the changes and how the sport is reacting to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Despite the recent difficulties faced by much of the sporting world, the message to the MotoGP community remains an optimistic one as work continues round the clock to get our tantalising 2020 season underway.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (L) with Ballington – MotoGP Legends 2018
Why have the Grands Prix been postponed?
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “Since the coronavirus problem began, we’ve been following the instructions of each government, we have been in close contact with the promoters in Austin and Argentina and when the authorities said it wasn’t possible to do it now, we talked to other Grands Prix to try and accommodate… and we were able to. Now the calendar is ok, if everything continues as it is.”
Is the aim to continue with the 19 GPs that remain in the 2019 season?
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “As I said in the press conference in Qatar, our idea is to continue the Championship with all the races, that’s our aim. But if something is unpredictable… we’re following the situations with each government and especially the promoters. We’re in close contact with the FIM, IRTA, the teams, and of course with the promoters. We’re trying to accommodate everything in the moment, in close contact with them.”
As it stands, will the Spanish GP at Jerez be the first MotoGP class round of the season?
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “We are talking with the authorities in Jerez and today everything seems ok; there’s no problem. But we’ll see exactly what the situation is in the near future.”
Randy Mamola and Carmelo Ezpeleta – MotoGP Legends 2018
Would you consider having the first MotoGP class Grand Prix behind closed doors?
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “As I said, we are trying to do everything as normally as we can but if the conditions of the local authorities are to race without spectators, we can consider it, along with the local promoter.”
Have you been in contact with the teams?
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “We have been in contact with the FIM, IRTA, with the teams and organisers, and all together we are taking the necessary measures.”
Have you got a message for MotoGP fans?
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “We are expecting a fantastic MotoGP season, We think the season will be amazing, and we’re waiting to start it as soon as possible. It’s a bit delayed from normal but if we can start on the schedule we have now, it really will be an exciting season.”
Revised 2020 MotoGP Calendar
(Updated 12th March)
<tr”>22th NovemberComunitat ValencianaComunitat Valenciana-Ricardo Tormo
| 2020 MotoGP Calendar (Revised) | ||
 |
||
| Date | Grand prix | Circuit |
| 08 M |
||
| 03 May | Spain | Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto |
| 17 May | France | Le Mans |
| 31 May | Italy | Autodromo del Mugello |
| 07 June | Catalunya | Barcelona – Catalunya |
| 21 June | Germany | Sachsenring |
| 28 June | Netherlands | TT Circuit Assen |
| 12 July | Finland** | KymiRing |
| 09 August | Czech Republic | Automotodrom Brno |
| 16 August | Austria | Red Bull Ring-Spielberg |
| 30 August | Great Britain | Silverstone |
| 13 September | San Marino | Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli |
| 27 September | Aragón | MotorLand Aragón |
| 04 October | Thailand | Chang International Circuit |
| 18 October | Japan | Twin Ring Motegi |
| 25 October | Australia | Phillip Island |
| 01 November | Malaysia | Sepang International Circuit |
| 15th November | Americas | Circuit of the Americas |
| 22th November | Republica Argentina | Termas de Rio Hondo |
Source: MCNews.com.au