MotoGP | Ezpeleta: “Let's try to get back to normal”

Dorna CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, commented on the draft 2021 calendar which, it must be said, could undergo more changes depending on the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Spaniard underlined the importance of continuing to work with optimism, to ensure that every race can be held without problems.

“We are trying to get back to normal, we have spoken with all the promoters and we have drawn up a normal calendar because it is important to know exactly on which days the Grands Prix will be held. We will start as usual in Qatar and finish in Valencia. In between there will be 18 Grands Prix and we hope they can be done. Obviously there is a lot we don't know yet, which is why we have included three reserve Grands Prix to be awarded where possible and also taking into account the weather considerations of each location. The most important thing for me and the message I want to give is that we will try to confirm the Grands Prix on those days."

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The provisional 2021 #MotoGP calendar is here! 🏁 # MotoGP2021 pic.twitter.com/QRTvoBOkh9

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 6, 2020

“As you may have noticed, Brno is not yet on the calendar. We have been talking to them for many years and the requirement for FIM approval is to have work done on the circuit, especially resurfacing, which has been mandatory since the last GP. During the Safety Commission we decided that it was mandatory. Unfortunately due to the changes, the South Moravian government could not confirm this need to resurface and do the necessary works for the Grand Prix. So we decided not to put the stage on the calendar and wait to see if they succeed, otherwise we will put reserve Grands Prix in that period, not exactly there, because it depends on whether Brno will be there or not."

“Brno has been on the calendar for a long time but it is also important that safety issues, especially resurfacing, are mandatory. If we do not have confirmation we cannot include it in the calendar. We will see exactly, but we have two reserves in Europe, Portimão and Russia, and Mandalika in Indonesia. Franco Uncini went to Igora Drive, it's a really fantastic place. We are evaluating the possibility of it being on the calendar. Today we have 20 GPs on the calendar and it's not possible, but in the event that some stages are not possible, we will try to place Igora Drive as second reserve after Portimão."

“This year we tried to compromise between the possibilities and the little time we had available, when the pandemic allowed us to restart. In Europe it is not possible to run later than we are doing. We are here in Valencia and the weather is so-so, I hope that in Portimão it will be even better! Unfortunately we couldn't travel outside of Europe, so we made the most of it, during this period from July to now. Including Qatar, we have had 15 Grands Prix and we are very proud; everyone at Dorna, the FIM, the IRTA, the teams, are extremely satisfied with the result we achieved by working together in this difficult year."