The Sepang weekend kicked off for the entire MotoGP paddock with the terrible images of Valencia flooded by the fury of storm Dana. A fury that created enormous damage, claimed lives and obviously strongly put into serious doubt the possibility of holding the last GP of the 2024 season, as well as the first tests ahead of 2025, two weeks from now.
In the morning dedicated to briefings with journalists, many riders commented on these events and one of the harshest was Marc Marquez, who absolutely does not want to hear about the possibility of running a GP in that area while there are very serious emergencies to be dealt with and it would not be sensible to divert resources to repair the damage to the Ricardo Tormo facilities before getting the local population safe.
"Spain and especially Valencia were hit hard by storm Dana - were Marc's words - As a Spanish person, it's super difficult for me to see this kind of images, they are terrifying. Theoretically we have a GP there, but all the facilities of the government, of Spain, need to go for those people that lost their house. We have even lost already a hundred people, I read last night."
So do you think we can forget about the GP in Valencia?
"It would be a mistake to worry about the GP in Valencia today. Ours is a sporting event, an entertainment event. It has to go completely in the background. We need to understand well the situation, but all the facilities need to go for those people.
I mean, I see the damage of the circuit in Valencia, but it makes no sense to start to repair those things while having many people without a house. So, let’s see what they will do.”
A shame not to be able to end the world championship in Spain, even the scenario of Jerez seems difficult.
"My feelings are clear. As a Spanish rider I would like to race the last Grand Prix of the season in Spain, I imagine a circuit that maybe I like and also a beautiful scenario for the fans. But the situation is what it is and I think it is our duty to think first to help all those who have been homeless, those who have lost someone, there are people who don't have how to eat today.
I almost don't want to pronounce right now on whether we should race in Spain anyway, but I have to: for me it would be a mistake to race the last GP of the season in Spain. From an ethical point of view it would be a mistake."
Not even earmarking all the proceeds from ticket sales for the evacuees?
"The only option that would make sense would be to allocate all the proceeds from ticket sales to the families of the evacuees. That would have been a plausible plan, but the fact is that before you could do that you would have to spend so much money to repair the damage to the circuit, so I wouldn't know how much would be left over.
Without that scenario, running the race there goes completely by the wayside. Also it's not just about money, it's also about time that is more fair to devote to the affected families."
What decision do you expect?
"I hope that whatever decision is made, it is made keeping the value of the man first and not that of the sporting event. If it were up to me, I wouldn't think about running there at all."
Thinking about the present, what do you expect from Sepang?
"Historically, Sepang has been one of the most difficult tracks for me. However, after my experience with Ducati one year, maybe it will be difficult but I will try on Friday to see how I'm doing. In Thailand if we were in dry conditions we were in my opinion 3rd or 4th. Here if we are on the same level it would be a great success, because I fear it could be even worse."
