2012 March MotoGP date firming
With unwavering pressure being applied from the MotoGP rights holder, it's now looking increasingly likely we'll see a March Oz GP in 2012The push for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island to be held early in season 2012 continues to gain momentum, with rights holder Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpelata suggesting a “Festival of Speed'” with the motorcycle and formula one rounds held on successive weekends in March.
According to an Australian Associated Press (AAP) report, Ezpeleta is adamant that the motorcycle race will not remain in Australia after this year unless it is moved away from October, with the drive for change initiated by the MotoGP safety commission.
“Ron Walker (the chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, which runs the F1 and MotoGP events) told me in an email that he would come back to me as soon as possible with dates for 2012,'" Ezpeleta was quoted as saying by AAP.
"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.”
The AGPC has a contract to run the motorcycle race in October, but Ezpeleta said that was dependent on the track being approved for a race.
“Our position has not changed at all," he said. “We want the race moving to earlier in the year for 2012, and the corporation is aware of our position.”
Walker, speaking on Melbourne radio station 3AW this morning, appeared to take a conciliatory stance towards Ezpelata, which suggests that a new agreement may be reached in due course.
Just how that will affect the Superbike World Championship, which has now settled into a season-opening date at Phillip Island in late February, remains to be seen.
Not to mention the sheer logistical nightmare for the AGPC of running world championship rounds over successive weeks.
A provisional calendar for the 2012 MotoGP title should be released about September this year.
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