Valencia decimated by floods from storm Dana. Season finale in doubt.

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I believe Dorna has already a back-up plan for the race to go ahead at a different track on the Iberian peninsula.

They'll want to have it for commercial reasons, and they want to have the last race in Spain, with a Spanish rider potentially winning the World Championship for personal reasons. Even if he's not Catalan.
 
Terrible news for the people of Valencia. The race there has a great impact on the area. Hopefully dorna can find a way to give some proceeds to those effect by this. Local business could use the help the race brings to the area, so how can this sport help those people in a time of need?
That’s assuming local businesses are not impacted enough to not be able to provide those services. Unfortunately, I doubt that is the case. The photos I have seen are pure devastation. Tbh the race is so unimportant in the scheme of what is going on.
 
I believe Dorna has already a back-up plan for the race to go ahead at a different track on the Iberian peninsula.

They'll want to have it for commercial reasons, and they want to have the last race in Spain, with a Spanish rider potentially winning the World Championship for personal reasons. Even if he's not Catalan.
I doubt they could hold it within 2 weeks though. Not that I would have an issue with pushing the final race back.
 
That’s assuming local businesses are not impacted enough to not be able to provide those services. Unfortunately, I doubt that is the case. The photos I have seen are pure devastation. Tbh the race is so unimportant in the scheme of what is going on.
I don't think you understood my post. I was saying we or they(dorna) need to find a way to help these local businesses because they are suffering from this tragic event. If I was going to the race, I would pay for my hotel even if the event wasn't happening. I'd do anything I can to help the local people recover from this. If they have the race at another location they should do a fund raiser at the event. Offer the proceeds to the effect area. I know I am asking for too much from a big business but still. This is what should happen.
 
That’s assuming local businesses are not impacted enough to not be able to provide those services. Unfortunately, I doubt that is the case. The photos I have seen are pure devastation. Tbh the race is so unimportant in the scheme of what is going on.

Years ago, we had floods where I live and it was several months before some businesses were able to reopen. The flooded buildings had to be stripped right back to brickwork, replumbed, rewired etc. Friends couldn't move back into their houses for 10 months. Thankfully, no-one died.

Sadly, the people of Valencia weren't so fortunate.

I can't see them racing there this season, and I don't think they should.
 
The logistics of getting the teams, the vendors, the craft services and appropriate tires to an unplanned for alternative venue would be insane, on top of which, the grandstands would be virtually empty because fans have taken off time and made travel plans and booked hotels for a specific day and location, and there's no way they're going to be able to issue new tickets, to say nothing of arranging accommodations for a huge variety of people who are there as support, like track officials, security, the press, camera operators, corner workers etc. If Dorna tries it, I'd anticipate a massive cluster .....

The totally weird solution (and yes I know this is completely nuts) would be to have the final race at the beginning of next season. Sure would keep people on tenterhooks over the winter. The amount of speculation would be out of this world. Again - I'm not saying this with any seriousness.

Honestly, I don't think there's any really good solution.
 
I don't think you understood my post. I was saying we or they(dorna) need to find a way to help these local businesses because they are suffering from this tragic event. If I was going to the race, I would pay for my hotel even if the event wasn't happening. I'd do anything I can to help the local people recover from this. If they have the race at another location they should do a fund raiser at the event. Offer the proceeds to the effect area. I know I am asking for too much from a big business but still. This is what should happen.
I 100% agree with that one tbh. Sorry I misunderstood your post.
While every bit helps, it wouldn't generate enough to help on a wide scale but I could see it helping be the different between people eating and being safe compared to starving and not having any shelter.
The residents won't have work places to go back to, you would think, most people in the world live week to week so money for food and food supply is going to be difficult for a lot of people I imagine.

I would love to see some of the racers donate their win and podium bonuses (only the ones that have the money to do so) or at least a percentage to those impacted in what is an iconic area for motorcycle racing.
 
The logistics of getting the teams, the vendors, the craft services and appropriate tires to an unplanned for alternative venue would be insane, on top of which, the grandstands would be virtually empty because fans have taken off time and made travel plans and booked hotels for a specific day and location, and there's no way they're going to be able to issue new tickets, to say nothing of arranging accommodations for a huge variety of people who are there as support, like track officials, security, the press, camera operators, corner workers etc. If Dorna tries it, I'd anticipate a massive cluster .....

The totally weird solution (and yes I know this is completely nuts) would be to have the final race at the beginning of next season. Sure would keep people on tenterhooks over the winter. The amount of speculation would be out of this world. Again - I'm not saying this with any seriousness.

Honestly, I don't think there's any really good solution.
Martin could win the #1 plate on an Aprilia 😂
 
The logistics of getting the teams, the vendors, the craft services and appropriate tires to an unplanned for alternative venue would be insane, on top of which, the grandstands would be virtually empty because fans have taken off time and made travel plans and booked hotels for a specific day and location, and there's no way they're going to be able to issue new tickets, to say nothing of arranging accommodations for a huge variety of people who are there as support, like track officials, security, the press, camera operators, corner workers etc. If Dorna tries it, I'd anticipate a massive cluster .....

If the race is in the Iberian peninsula, as my guestimate of what Dorna would want, the logistics would be very easy to handle.
The airfreight lands potentially in Madrid or Barcelona. So the distance to a track is either shorter, or same as for Valencia.
You don't have any vendors who aren't easily relocated. The Dorna press, will be airlifted to wherever. You have your usual set of merch, the Galicia Estrella and Segafreddo vendors. Same lame queso or jamon at every circuit. They'll probably have them made during the off-season by the taste of it.

Qatar would probably pay for all the expenses, if Dorna wants another race there.

Tickets? Compared to a game of football or a big concert, its the least refined way to handle a big mass of people I've had the pleasure of getting to know.

I'd be flabbergasted if they don't find another track to race at. And then test.
 
The totally weird solution (and yes I know this is completely nuts) would be to have the final race at the beginning of next season. Sure would keep people on tenterhooks over the winter. The amount of speculation would be out of this world. Again - I'm not saying this with any seriousness.

Honestly, I don't think there's any really good solution.
It would actually be impossible due to contracts being based on the calendar year.
I'd prefer an outright cancellation over a season finale four months after the penultimate race when no one remembers what happened in the first 19 races. There should be some coherence to a season.

There seem to be four realistic options
1) another weekend at Sepang
2) reschedule on the Iberian peninsula
3) reschedule in Qatar
4) cancel

Qatar couldn't happen before December which would create a huge gap.
Jerez is booked on three weekends in November and reorganizing the race on a new track is a huge challenge anyway.

But apparently Dorna has set the goal to keep the race at Valencia.
 
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