Last Tuesday (Novembre 20th) Javier Alonso (Dorna) and Claude Denis (FIM safety advisor) visited the Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina for a last look before giving the Argentinean circuit its homologation, however the trip was for the moment a waste of time as Dorna has announced that Argentina will no longer be included on the 2013 calendar.
Last December a three-year deal was announced for the Termas de Río Hondo circuit to host an Argentinian MotoGP from 2013, with a provisional date penned in for April 14th, but just a few weeks later the South American government led by Cristina Kirchner expropriated 51% of Repsol’s YPF subsidary which obviously angered both Repsol and the Spanish government – Repsol is now suing Argentina for 10 billion euros.
Following the ‘hostile’ move, the Spanish government issued a travel advisory warning Repsol personnel to avoid travelling to Argentina for safety reasons, however the warning was lifted last Tuesday – the same day that Dorna was at the Termas de Rio Honda circuit – but apparently it was too late for Dorna – travel arrangements and shipping the 270 tons of equipment required for an overseas event (from the bikes to safety cars to broadcasting systems) on three 747 cargo jets rquires a mass amount of time and organization – so the event was called off (everyone knows how much weight Repsol sponsorship carries in all three racing classes, not only the Honda factory team, but also the number of riders) but it will be back on the calendar in 2014.
The 2013 calendar has already be revised and be back to 18 rounds, with the season opener in Qatar to be held on April 7th, instead of March 31st and followed by the already confirmed Austin GP on April 21st.
Dorna Sports press release after the jump.
The Gran Premio de la República Argentina, which was set to take place at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit early next year, has not been included in the 2013 calendar.
On June 20th 2012, the Spanish government recommended that teams and riders sponsored by Repsol should not travel to the República Argentina due to safety reasons.
Therefore, the celebration of the 2013 Gran Premio de la República Argentina remained under suspension until such recommendation would be kept in force.
The deadline for Dorna Sports, commercial rights holder of the MotoGP™ World Championship, to officially propose the 2013 MotoGP™ Calendar to FIM was November 18th.
On November 20th, the Spanish government notified through email sent to Dorna Sports the withdrawal of the above-referred recommendation, when the time for the Calendar presentation had already expired and therefore, there was no possibility to include a new MotoGP™ event.
Anyhow, Dorna Sports commits itself to include Gran Premio de la República Argentina on the 2014 Calendar and onwards, to be approved by FIM subject to the homologation of the track, which presumably shall take place within the first quarter of 2013.
Dorna Sports recognizes the Gran Premio de la República Argentina Promoter´s efforts regarding the satisfactorily termination of the construction works and the organization and promotion preliminary activities.
2013 MotoGP Calendar :07 April – Qatar Doha/Losail21 April – Americas, Austin05 May – Spain (STC), Jerez de la Frontera19 May – France, Le Mans02 June – Italy, Mugello16 June – Catalunya, Catalunya29 June – Netherlands, Assen07 July – Germany, Sachsenring21 July – United States, Laguna Seca18 August – Indianapolis, Indianapolis25 August – Czech Republic, Brno01 September – Great Britain, Silverstone15 September – San Marino & Riviera di Rimini, Marco Simoncelli Misano29 September – Aragón, Motorland13 October – Malaysia, Sepang20 October – Australia, Phillip Island27 October – Japan, Motegi10 November – Valencia, Ricardo Tormo-Valencia