Madrid: MotoGP has officially canceled its highly anticipated season-finale Valencia Grand Prix following severe floods in Spain, which have tragically claimed the lives of 205 people, with the majority of casualties occurring in eastern Spain. The organization confirmed on Friday that it would announce a replacement venue and new race date soon.
“After carefully weighing up the potential positive impact of MotoGP racing in Valencia on delayed dates versus ensuring no single resource is diverted from the recovery efforts… the championship and local authorities have been obliged to cancel the 2024 Valencia GP,” MotoGP stated.
In response, MotoGP pledged to shift its focus toward supporting local relief funds to assist the affected communities and to contribute to the ongoing recovery efforts. “The championship will put our collective efforts behind backing the relief funds already in place to ensure our positive impact can connect with the area in the way it best serves the people and communities we have been part of for so long,” the organization added.
Also Read | Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Appeal Over ‘Thinking Out Loud’
The decision aligns with concerns raised by MotoGP riders during Thursday’s pre-race event in Malaysia. Riders voiced that holding the race in Valencia from November 15-17, as originally scheduled, would be inappropriate given the scale of the disaster.
The championship’s conclusion, however, remains uncertain as the final race could be pivotal. With Spain’s Jorge Martin from Pramac Racing and Ducati’s two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia from Italy locked in a close contest, the outcome of the championship will likely be decided at this relocated event.
