The Phillip Island MotoGP round won’t be happening this year – and five-time 500cc world champion Mick Doohan isn’t too happy about it.
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation board member isn’t the only one gritting his teeth. With ongoing restrictions costing last year’s Aussie Grand Prix to fold, riders and viewers alike were looking forward to the next race to unite the track – in the case of Doohan’s frustrations, for an Aussie to win it.
Aussie homestars Jack Miller and Remy Gardner
According to a report from Crash.net, two Aussies were carrying a lot of potential for this year’s home race. Factory Ducati rider and home star Jack Miller had been winning races in the premier class, and with future Tech3 KTM rider Remy Gardner leading the Moto2 world championship, chances were high for an Aussie win.
Besides that, fans were simply eager to see things return to normal after the restrictions of 2020.
Phillip Island Christmas cards of 2020/2021, prior to the most recent restrictions.
“I’m totally devastated that we’re not hosting the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix again this year at Phillip Island,” says Doohan, “especially with the form we’ve got with Jack Miller in MotoGP and Remy Gardner in Moto2, who could have been in a position to win the championship overall at Phillip Island”.
While fans are exempt from the view at Phillip Island for 2021, they will still be able to look forward to next year’s rounds, where Miller and Gardner will be sharing the same grid.
MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta released the following in a statement:
“Unfortunately, we will have to wait another year to return to Victoria, but we very much look forward to seeing the Australian fans in 2022 and staging another fantastic event together – this time with two home heroes, Jack Miller and Remy Gardner, on the premier class grid when we return”.
Andrew Westacott, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (L) listens to Paul Little, Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman
Paul Little, Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman, mirrors these sentiments.
“I would like to reassure our motivated and professional staff, suppliers, and partners, as well as the Victorian tourism and major events community, that we will work tirelessly to deliver these iconic events in 2022.”
Fingers crossed for 2022, and make sure to support the riders by staying up to date on all things MotoGP!
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.”
The annual FIM Awards ceremony brought the curtain down on a spectacular weekend in Andorra, where more than 100 national motorcycling federations gathered to celebrate their communal values of courage, excellence and commitment.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta with WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea, WorldSSP300 Champion Ana Carrasco, WorldSSP Champion Sandro Cortese, Moto2 Champion Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP™ Champion Marc Marquez and Moto3 Champion Jorge Martin
At the crowning ceremony were some of the biggest names in two-wheeled sport, from record-breaking five-time FIM MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquéz to 14-year-old FIM 85cc Junior Motocross World Champion Caden Braswell – the youngest gold medal recipient of 2018.
Aussies
Australians recognised at this year’s FIM Award Night included the 2018 ISDE Championship winning teams, with Daniel Milner, Daniel Sanders, Lyndon Snodgrass, and Joshua Strang claiming the World Trophy, and Jessica Gardiner, Tayla Jones and Mackenzie Tricker claiming the Women’s World Trophy title.
Toby Price – Image by Goodshoot/Reygondeau
Bailey Malkiewicz (Yamaha) also won the FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Championship on home soil in Australia, while Josh Hook was a part of the F.C.C. TSR EWC World Championship winning team.
Toby Price was also recognised for his victory in the Cross-Countries Rally Championship.
MotoGP
Marquez is no stranger to the gala, winning five of the last six premier class crowns, and the Spaniard is now the youngest ever seven-time World Champion – adding another well-earned medal to the cabinet in 2018.
Marc Marquez
“It’s amazing to be here with everyone, I want to congratulate all these Champions. If we’re here we had a great season. And thanks to the team and all those kind of things, now back to the party! Try to enjoy it!”
Marc Marquez (centre)
Marquez was joined at the gala by 2018 Moto2 World Champion Francesco Bagnaia after his impressive year, and another record breaker in the form of Moto3 World Champion Jorge Martin.
Raul Fernandez was also present to pick up his award for winning the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship ahead of his full-time debut in Moto3 on the world stage next season, having impressed to wrap up the crown ahead of the final weekend at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.
Francesco Bagnaia
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and finally I reached it! And I want to thank the Team, Sky, the Academy, my family, my girlfriend and friends…and next year for sure I have my next objective and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Francesco Bagnaia
Jorge Martin
“It means a lot to me, I want to thank my family and team and all the people who support me. I want to congratulate all the Champions because they know how difficult it is to be here – and I’ll work hard to be back here in the next few years!”
Jorge Martin
World Superbikes
History-maker and 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) collected his medal – for the fourth time in a row – and was joined by FIM Supersport World Champion Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) who took the title in his rookie season in the final round at Losail International Circuit.
Ana Carrasco – Image by Goodshoot/Reygondeau
One of the most notable champions attending the awards was FIM Supersport 300 World Champion Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team), who became the first solo female to win a world title, crowned in dramatic style at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
“Once again I’ve been incredibly proud to accept my FIM World Championship medal in front of all the other champions from various disciplines. It truly is the moment when what we have achieved starts to sink in. I want to thank all my team at KRT for all their support, my family and friends for their support.”
As well as officially crowning over fifty FIM World Champions from the 2018 motorcycling season, five equally important FIM Awards were also bestowed on individuals and organisations for their contributions to motorcycling ‘Beyond Sport’.
The FIM Women in Motorcycling Award was collected by Macrocampus, an event organised by the RFME Women’s Commission of Motorcycling at the famous MotorLand Circuit in Aragón.
The winner of the FIM Fair Play Trophy was Sebastien VanBaelen, a Belgian Enduro rider who came to the aid of a stricken competitor in l’Enduropale du Touquet, in France, while the FIM Environment Award went to Sky Ocean Rescue in Italy.
Meanwhile, Michael Woodford MBE picked up the FIM Road Safety and Public Policy Award for his road safety campaigning and important work regarding ‘Automatic Headlight On’ technology, while the first ever winners of the FIM Award for the Future were Dorna Sports for their investment in and commitment to various rookies’ series, in collaboration with the FIM National Federations and Continental Unions.
Carmelo Ezpeleta – Dorna CEO
“Thanks to the FIM and those who decided to give us this award. It is now 27 seasons we’ve been working with the FIM, with the national federations, with all the clubs. Special thanks to all the riders who have permitted us to grow during this time. From the beginning we thought it was important to create new strategies for people who maybe, without this programme, might not be able to participate. I’ve very proud to receive it in the name of Dorna, in the name of all the people who work at Dorna. And to receive this from Giacomo (Agostini), it’s an incredible honour for us to receive this from him.”
The list of names treading the red carpet included a prestigious line-up of prize givers, who handed over the honours to the World Champions and award recipients.
FIM Legend and fifteen-time FIM Circuit Racing World Champion Giacomo Agostini was joined by FIM legend and former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, Pentti Korhonen and legendary former alpine skier turned racing driver and keen motorcyclist Luc Alphand.
