Phillip Island MotoGP doubts for 2012?
The MotoGP's governing body, Dorna, has fired another shot at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, as the war of words over a calender change continuesOver the past few months there has been plenty of rumour mongering and heresay about the future of the Australian round of the MotoGP title, and in particular the scheduling of the event.
Big name riders, officials and Dorna executives have in the past subtly complained about the spring weather during the October event at Phillip Island, which can often be inclement, with strong winds and rain not uncommon.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (pictured) has added a little more fuel to the fire of a possible date change for the Australian MotoGP, commenting at the Ducati launch event Italy when quizzed by the media.
"We are talking with them (Phillip Island circuit). It’s true they have a contract, but their circuit is subject to homologation. If it is not homologated, the contract will be void," stated Ezpeleta.
Them's fighting words and with both sides not wanting to compromise, we could see an escalation of hostilities.
Ezpeleta is one of the most powerful figures in the MotoGP world, and has been pushing for a date change to early in the year during the warmer months (March or April) for the Oz GP, but the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has a legally binding contract that stipulates it can run the event in October until 2016. And it doesn't want to run the event early in the year, as it would clash with F1 and WSBK events.
Ezpeleta has previously stated that the date change will not be negotiable and the ramifications will be dire: "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."
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