Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP riders have once again been urged to seek legal representation amid rumours that the sport could head to the Miami Autodrome.
Liberty Media have already dropped Phillip Island for a street circuit in Adelaide, and now they are said to be in talks with South Florida Motorsports over bringing MotoGP to the F1 track in Miami.
Sport Business Journal broke the story last weekend, though they clarified that the proposal is still at an exploratory stage. It’s not yet clear whether it would be possible to modify the circuit, which effectively runs through the car park of the Hard Rock stadium, for MotoGP bikes.
MotoGP riders don’t stand a ‘chance’ against Liberty Media without legal representation
The Miami talk naturally raises safety concerns given the nature of the F1 track.
Mat Oxley has previously argued that MotoGP riders need a lawyer, and writing in a column for Motorsport Magazine, he once again urged them to hire a ‘full-time representative’.
Do you want to see MotoGP in Miami? 🏖️
While riders have previously talked about hiring a former racer, Oxley says they need a legal expert. That individual could organise votes on ‘important issues’ and use the results to put Liberty and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (formerly Dorna) under pressure.
Oxley says the riders themselves aren’t equipped to take on Liberty, ‘a £40bn conglomerate’. He has urged them to ‘speak out’ not just to protect their own interests, but also for counterparts in other championships and future generations.
Fail to do so, and he fears ‘they will only have themselves to blame’ for any problems.
Carmelo Ezpeleta says it will be ‘very difficult’ to keep all four Spanish races
Liberty’s plans for the calendar are putting some of the series’ traditional races under threat. Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta said at least one of the Spanish events could drop off the schedule.
The sport currently visits Jerez, Barcelona, Aragon and Valencia, which means nearly 20% of the races are in the same country. Ezpeleta says that arrangement isn’t sustainable.
He said, via Motorsport: “It will be difficult, it will be difficult in the future. I am proud that Catalonia and Barcelona, which is my city, are the birthplace of MotoGP, of the world championship.
“We can’t hold more than 22 races due to agreements with teams, so having four in Spain will be very difficult.”
There have already been reports that the Aragon Grand Prix is under threat, but Liberty will assess the profitability of all four events.
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