MotoGP returns to Brazil in ’14
On Monday, the Brasilia circuit was visited by Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and local authorities before the plans for a new Grand Prix were revealed to the gathered press.
Alongside local officials including Agnelo dos Santos Queiroz Filho – Governor of the Federal District, who was presented with signed helmets of MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez and his brother Alex (competing in the Moto3 category) – Mr. Ezpeleta announced that the World Championship could return to the country during the second half of the 2014 season.
A proposal from Brazilian authorities and local promoter IMX, outlining the project, will be presented to the Safety Commission during the upcoming race weekend of the Hertz British Grand Prix at Silverstone. It is then expected that the green light will be given to begin a full rebuilding project on the Brasilia circuit, which would commence in December 2013 and conclude in April or May of 2014. In-turn, FIM Homologation would take place to give final confirmation for a Grand Prix, which would be staged in the second half of the 2014 MotoGP campaign.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports:
“Brazil is one of the most important motorcycling markets in the world. It is in South America, so the time schedule is very good for the television coverage, but returning to Brazil has been a wish of the whole MotoGP family for many years and it is a very important matter for us. Until now it has been impossible because, as everybody knows, the most important thing for us is safety.
“I think it is really fantastic. It is an important project for us. Right now Brazil is involved in many big projects, such as the football World Cup and the Olympic Games, so it is also very important for them – not just the Federal Government, but also promoter IMX which is one of the most important promoter companies in the world and of course the most important in South America; they are committed to doing a fantastic job."
MotoGP's last visit to Brazil was in 2004, when the premier class race – titled the Rio Grand Prix – was won by Makoto Tamada. Should Brazil return to the calendar in 2014 it will become the second new South American race host, with Argentina being the other.