Dorna expects Motegi race to go ahead

A letter updating teams and paddock personnel of the current situation relating to the staging of the rescheduled Japanese MotoGP race makes it clear that Dorna believes the event will go ahead in early October.

Several top riders including Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Marco Simoncelli expressed concerns that the Twin Ring Motegi race remains on the 2011 MotoGP calendar.

The race was originally scheduled to run on April 24 but was postponed following the devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

There is unease with many riders and teams about the safety of travelling to Japan because of the extensive damage suffered by the Fukushima nuclear plant, which is only 75 miles away from the Twin Ring Motegi.

But MCN obtained a letter issued by the International Race Teams Association to all teams during the recent French Grand Prix confirming that there was no reason why the Japanese Grand Prix will be cancelled.

The letter read: “Because we are aware of a certain amount of speculation in the paddock concerning the postponement and rumours that the event may even not take place, we wish to clarify the current position.

“The Safety Officer, Claude Danis, inspected the Motegi circuit last week. He reported that even although there was limited damage to the track, the entire track is going to be resurfaced and that the circuit facilities are in perfect order to hold the event. He also reported that there appeared to be little or no damage to buildings or infrastructure in the region of the circuit.

“His transition from Tokyo airport to the circuit and return was completely normal. Dorna have received no indication from the promoters of the race of any intention to cancel or postpone the event. The opinion of Dorna is that unless there are any new developments affecting the circuit or the environment, or if they receive a request from the organisers to cancel, then the event will proceed as planned.”