Barcelona To Host Final MotoGP Race
T
he Circuit of Barcelona-
Catalunya will host the final
MotoGP race of 2024, November
15-17, after devastating floods
destroyed many towns in the Va-
lencia region of Spain, including
those around the Ricardo Tormo
Circuit.
Series owner Dorna initially in-
dicated it planned to plow ahead
with the final round at its original
venue. But that possibility made
many in the MotoGP paddock un-
comfortable, with a recent death
toll in the hundreds and poised to
rise further, while thousands of
homes have been affected.
Marc Marquez stated it would
be "unethical" to race there, even
if the event date was delayed.
And Pecco Bagnaia went one
step further, stating, "Even at the
cost of losing the title, I'm not
willing to race in Valencia."
Yet the decision to move
the final race was welcomed
by almost every rider. "It's the
correct decision, and it's the
one that all riders were pushing
for," said Alex Marquez. "Every
day that passes [in Valencia]
there is more of a nightmare."
And the riders are determined
to find a way of helping those
affected. "I will try and see how
we can help Valencia and raise
some money," said Aleix Espar
-
garo. While Barcelona makes
logistical sense, some riders are
concerned at the thought of rac-
ing at the facility in Montmelo in
mid-November. The clockwise
layout features two left-handers,
which can be tricky to tackle
during the normal race date in
June due to the left side of the
front tire losing temperature. In
much cooler conditions, it could
spell trouble.
Neil Morrison
WIND
IN THE
P36
The Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya
will host the final MotoGP race of
the season, moving from the Ricardo
Tormo Circuit and the Valencia
region of Spain, recently devastated
by flooding.
