Japanese MotoGP date change confirmed

The 2011 Japanese MotoGP race, originally scheduled to take place on April 24, has been moved to October 2.

The FIM has just confirmed the switch, which follows a devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last week.

A short statement said the move was the result of a direct request from Twin Ring Motegi management to re-schedule the date as Japan tries to come to terms with the impact of last Friday’s natural disaster.

It was initially anticipated that the race would be moved to take place prior to the Australian and Malaysia races in Phillip Island (Oct 16) and Sepang (Oct 23).
But plans to have a flyaway triple-header weren’t possible because the Japanese Formula One race at Suzuka is scheduled to take place on October 9.

As the severity of the devastation caused in Japan materialised, it became clearer with each passing hour that the Twin Ring Motegi race was in major doubt. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta was in constant contact with circuit management while also liasing with teams in the paddock on the situation.

It is the second year in succession that the Japanese round of the world championship has been rescheduled.

Last year’s race was postponed from April to October following the volcanic ash crisis that prevented most of the paddock from flying from Europe to the Far East.