MotoGP officially confirmed this Tuesday that the The Montmeló circuit in Barcelona will host the final race of the motorcycle world championship from 15 to 17 this month to replace the Valencian Community Grand Prix, suspended due to the floods that affected the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Cheste.
Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP sporting director, said the final race of the World Championship would be held in Barcelona in the absence of official confirmation from the circuit. The Catalan authorities wanted to consult Valencia to request its agreement after the suspension of tests in Cheste due to the damage caused by DANA. After receiving the green light, MotoGP confirmed that the final battle between Jorge Martín and Pecco Bagnaia will take place in Montmeló.
In fact, the Barcelona event, which already hosted the sixth race of the season last May, will have a solidarity character with the Valencian Community, which will be reflected in its name: Barcelona Solidarity Grand Prix.
“Being the last Grand Prix of the season, given the sporting context in which the championship is located and the positive impact that the event has, we owe it to the fans, to our paddock, to the sport and to Valencia. Instead of racing in Valencia, MotoGP will race in Valencia. For everyone involved and for the entire Valencian Community,” the World Cup organizer said in a statement.
MotoGP asked Montmeló to replace Cheste
MotoGP asked the Generalitat last Sunday to Montmelo replace Cheste as calendar closeout given that It was “the best possible option” for its proximity to the Valencian Community and to facilitate the movement of supporters. “The location and circuit also constitute the most efficient option, offering a near-perfect alternative for personnel and logistics,” the note underlines.
#MotoGP I can confirm that the 2024 closing curtain will take place in Barcelona from November 15th to 17th 📅
The Grand Prix will take place in solidarity with the Community of Valencia#GPSolidarity 🏁 | #RacingForValence pic.twitter.com/RcatXjRsbG
– MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 5, 2024
The dates on which the race will take place are the same during which the test was planned in Cheste, whose accesses and parking lot were seriously damaged due to the floods of October 29.
MotoGP emphasizes that remains committed to its mission to “have a positive impact in the people, the place and the planet wherever he organizes his races. “In this case, racing near the Valencian Community will also allow the paddock to put it into practice even more directly,” the press release added.
During the testing weekend, various initiatives will be developed in Montmeló to support the help in Valencia, according to MotoGP, which did not detail these initiatives. “Join us in Barcelona del November 15 to 17 for an unforgettable final, through Valencia”, encourages the organizer of the World Cup.
In the last race of the calendar the champion of the MotoGP category will be decided, where the Spaniard Jorge Martin (Ducati Desmosedici GP24) He is 24 points ahead of Italian Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Desmosedici GP24). In the other two categories, the Japanese Ai Ogura (Kalex) and the Colombian David Alonso (CFMoto) already hold the title in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories respectively.
