MotoGP race in Valencia canceled due to deadly flooding in Spain | Motorsport news

MotoGP organizers have confirmed that the season finale in Valencia will not take place after the region was hit by flooding earlier this week.

Valencia will not host the final event of the MotoGP season due to devastating flooding in eastern Spain earlier this week, organizers have announced.

The race was due to take place on November 17 and the new venue will be “confirmed as soon as possible”, race organizers said in a statement on Friday.

Many of MotoGP’s top riders have called for the race to be moved from Valencia following deadly flooding that killed at least 205 people.

Floods devastated cities, piled up cars, destroyed bridges and filled streets with mud in Spain’s worst natural disaster in decades.

“We have been in constant contact with the local authorities and the circuit to best assess how we can help and how we should proceed,” MotoGP said.

“After carefully weighing the potential positive impact of the MotoGP race in Valencia in delaying the dates and ensuring that no resources are diverted from recovery efforts due to the presence of MotoGP, the championship and the local authorities have been obliged to cancel the 2024 Valencia Grand Prix.

“Instead of racing in Valencia, MotoGP will be racing in Valencia… the championship will direct our collective efforts to support the relief funds already in place.”

The penultimate race takes place in Malaysia this weekend, with Span’s Jorge Martin leading the standings ahead of Italy’s Francesco Bagnaia, who won the 2023 championship in Valencia.

Both drivers supported the withdrawal from Valencia.

“At the end of the day, I think the best decision would be to race elsewhere,” Primac Ducati rider Martin said on Thursday.

“Knowing the situation as it is, it’s wrong … it might not be right to race there,” Banyaya said.

Spanish reports said the Ricardo Tormo Racecourse was not affected by the flooding, but the infrastructure around it was affected.

Other sporting events in the region, including the visit of LaLiga champions Real Madrid against Valencia on Saturday, have been postponed.

It is not the first time that the highest level of motorsport in Europe has been canceled due to flooding.

The 2023 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, has been canceled by Formula One organizers due to flooding in the region.