Marquez leads MotoGP riders against staging race in flood-hit Valencia
Al Jazeera
The six-time MotoGP world champion is one of several riders who believe the season-ending race should be held elsewhere due to this week’s devastating floods in Spain’s Valencia region.
MotoGP riders said it would be unethical to stage the season’s final race in Valencia, with six-times champion Marc Marquez saying funds needed to go to people devastated by floods instead of being spent on repairs for the event.
At least 95 people have been killed in flooding and the subsequent damage has also affected the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, which hosts the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix, with pictures and videos on social media showing extensive destruction to approach roads for the venue.
MotoGP said the circuit itself was in good condition, adding that they were committed to holding the race on the scheduled date of November 17.
“Ethically speaking, I don’t think it [the MotoGP race] should be held. Now [the organisers] have to meet and decide, but [if it were up to me] I would have already decided,” Gresini Racing’s Marquez told reporters on Thursday.
“There would have to be another race, one to close the championship, but somewhere else. The only idea that would make sense would be if all the proceeds [from the event] went to the families [affected] …
