Valenceunder the impact of floods caused by the DANAhas become the center of a debate in the motorcycling world. Brand Marquezalong with other drivers, was critical of the possibility of competing in the MotoGP Grand Prix inside Ricardo Tormo Tour next week. Following images of devastation in the region, the eight-time world champion firmly expressed that “ethically it would be wrong” to continue the race without considering the urgent needs of those affected.
The Catalan pilot was direct in his statements: “Logically, as a Spaniard, these are terrifying images. We are far away, but we followed him closely, and it hurts very much to see people in these conditions and how DANA hit Valencia in this case”, highlighted Márquez. His position was not only an expression of solidarity, but also a call for awareness of social priorities in times of crisis. “For me it would be a mistake to talk about races when there are homeless people. We have lost a lot of Spaniards, we have lost lives. We must allocate all the resources we have in our country to these people,” he added.
Márquez’s stance has resonated with other competitors, who also believe the focus should be on helping affected families and not hosting a competition. Your brother, Alex Marquezwho shares this vision, has clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with the idea that the championship will take place in Valencia in less than two weeks. “I don’t see a world championship there in a week and a half,” he said, emphasizing the scale of the drama and the logistical difficulties that he says make even planning the event unwise. .
Access to the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste after crossing the Dana
Alex Rins He also gave his point of view by stating that “it would be ugly if they focused on fixing the road that leads to the circuit, as we all saw, before focusing on the families and homes of the people”. His thinking highlights a moral dilemma that many citizens, not just pilots, observe closely: whether or not it is ethical to prioritize repairing infrastructure for a sporting event instead of devoting those resources to rebuilding the homes of those affected.
Marc Márquez’s commitment to the situation translates into direct criticism of possible decisions that the MotoGP organization could take. According to him, it is not only a question of financial resources, but also of human time and effort. “How can you help people? The only option that would make sense to do the Valencia Grand Prix is to allocate everything that was collected to these families”, suggested the pilot, aware that a solidarity alternative could give a justification for the race. , as long as it directly benefits the victims.
However, Márquez maintained his skepticism, emphasizing that, without this social motivation, “it’s no longer just money, it’s resources, time… all this time and these resources should be allocated to all these families.
A plan B?
Aleix Espargaroanother Spanish driver, supported the idea of looking for alternatives if the Valencia race was ultimately canceled. For Espargaró, the size of the championship is sufficient for MotoGP to find a solution that does not compromise the outcome of the competition. “If you can’t go, I think the championship is big and important enough to find a plan B, because the first two are playing for the MotoGP World Championship and it would be good to find an alternative,” he said. he declared.
The emerging figure of MotoGP, Pedro Acostawas also blunt: “The Grand Prix is the least important thing”, emphasizing that the focus should be on the well-being of those involved. Márquez acknowledges that it is not up to him to make the final decision, but his opinion is firm. “It’s very early, it happened two days ago. Now they have to meet and make the decision, evaluating everything. I would have already done it, but see what is best to be human, not for the event itself and the championship, but for the human, for the Spanish people,” he added.
The images of the disaster left a deep impression on the pilots, and Márquez himself concluded his statement by saying that as a human being his feeling is clear: “all resources in material, in time… .all these hands must go to these humans.”
The position of these athletes, led by Marc Márquez, reflects a humanitarian approach and an awareness of the importance of providing aid to those who need it most. The ball is now in the organizers’ court, who will have to decide in the coming days whether the event will take place or whether an alternative is sought, taking into account not only the logistical aspects, but also the impact that such a decision has on society and in families who are still struggling to rebuild their lives after DANA.
