Marquez leads MotoGP riders against staging race in flood-hit Valencia

The six-time MotoGP satellite champion is 1 of respective riders who judge the season-ending contention should beryllium held elsewhere owed to this week’s devastating floods successful Spain’s Valencia region.

MotoGP riders said it would beryllium unethical to signifier the season’s last contention successful Valencia, with six-times champion Marc Marquez saying funds needed to spell to radical devastated by floods alternatively of being spent connected repairs for the event.

At slightest 95 radical person been killed successful flooding and the consequent harm has besides affected the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, which hosts the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix, with pictures and videos connected societal media showing extended demolition to attack roads for the venue.

MotoGP said the circuit itself was successful bully condition, adding that they were committed to holding the contention connected the scheduled day of November 17.

“Ethically speaking, I don’t deliberation it [the MotoGP race] should beryllium held. Now [the organisers] person to conscionable and decide, but [if it were up to me] I would person already decided,” Gresini Racing’s Marquez told reporters connected Thursday.

“There would person to beryllium different race, 1 to adjacent the championship, but determination else. The lone thought that would marque consciousness would beryllium if each the proceeds [from the event] went to the families [affected] …

“As a Spaniard, it is precise hard to spot these images. We cognize that the country astir the circuit has been severely damaged, but it doesn’t marque consciousness to walk wealth connected repairing that. Resources should spell to helping people.”

MotoGP organiser Dorna Sports has yet to remark connected the issue.

The season-ending contention volition apt determine the result of the championship, with the tussle betwixt Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin and Ducati’s two-times champion Francesco Bagnaia acceptable to spell down to the wire.

Martin is connected 453 points heading into the season’s penultimate contention successful Malaysia this week, portion Bagnaia is 2nd successful the standings connected 436.

Championship person Martin urged Dorna Sports to instrumentality a telephone connected the contention arsenic soon arsenic possible, adding: “Valencia volition beryllium difficult.

“Even if the way is solved and everything is good, it’s a hard concern successful presumption of respecting the radical there. I deliberation the champion enactment volition beryllium to contention elsewhere.”

Bagnaia said helium was besides uncertain astir staging the contention successful Valencia.

“Racing determination is similar a party, it’s a infinitesimal to enjoy,” helium said. “Knowing the concern close now, that’s not correct.

“We person ever been ace respectful of what’s happening astir the world. It could beryllium incorrect to contention there. If it was my choice, I would similar not to contention there. What Dorna volition determine volition beryllium good, but I deliberation we person galore much options we tin try.”

Flooding and dense rainfall successful the Valencia portion of Spain killed astatine slightest 95 radical this week successful the aforesaid country wherever Circuit Ricardo Tormo, the venue for the season-ending 2024 MotoGP play race, is located with the  Grand Prix scheduled for November 17 [David Ramos/Getty Images]