Spain is in turmoil. Recent catastrophic flooding has caused untold damage to the Valencia region, seeing thousands displaced, missing, and dead. The death toll, unfortunately, keeps rising and will likely continue to do so in the coming weeks and search and rescue operations continue.
So it's understandable that MotoGP canceled the season finale in Valencia that was set to occur later this month, right? Well, the finale's cancellation only occurred after a group of the sport's riders told Dorna, MotoGP's organizer, that they wouldn't participate if MotoGP tried to still hold the race in the city, which is absolutely what they were originally planning. Only after mounting further pressure did MotoGP's Carlos Ezpeleta, the sport's boss, state that the finale wouldn't be held in Valencia this year.
As such, MotoGP was left without a location for the final race. A lot of folks thought the race would stay in Malaysia, the penultimate locale, and just hold a doubleheader. That'd be easier and smarter, and MotoGP could've maintained some semblance of respectability.
But in the most tone-deaf move I've witnessed in recent years, MotoGP will still try and go to Spain. It'll just be in Barcelona, a few cities over from Valencia.
Are you kidding me?
"We have been looking at all the possibilities we had, it is quite a challenge to organize an event in two weeks," stated Ezpeleta to Mundo Deportivo, adding, "But over the last 48 hours we have looked at all the possible alternatives and we believe that Barcelona is the best possible location given the proximity to Valencia, given that many people were already traveling to get to the final, and especially for the fans - we believe it is the best possible location for them. We also know that we will be able to help the Valencian community from that location."
That all sounds nice without context, but here's some to think about. The current death toll in Spain has reached into the 200s, with more missing, and thousands displaced by the flooding. Cities and towns were ravaged, buildings and bridges have collapsed, and the Spanish government brought in 10,000 troops to help restore order in the chaos, as well as repair power lines, and other basic utilities like water. The area is a disaster zone, with more rain and storms on the way for the entirety of the region.
And that includes Barcelona.
Update: MotoGP has confirmed Barcelona for the race. Story as written follows.
As you'd expect, people are grieving, attempting to salvage what they can from what used to be their homes, businesses, and lives, and, as you'd expect, are beyond angry toward the government they see as leaving them to fend for themselves.
Over the weekend, Spain's King and Queen toured the devastation and it did not go well.
According to the BBC, "The king and queen of Spain have been pelted with mud and other objects by angry protesters during a visit to flood-hit Valencia. Shouts of 'murderer' and 'shame' were directed at the royal couple as they walked through the town of Paiporta - one of the worst affected in the region. Objects were also thrown at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was quickly evacuated." So yeah, it might not be a good idea to hold a race in Spain right now. But that's not stopping the series from attempting to move forward with the Barcelona race.
I'm not Spanish, yet I find MotoGP's lack of awareness and callousness to be beyond the pale. I mean, I understand that folks have booked flights and hotels and more. But those people are likely to get their money back and they'd be giving those within the region the space they need right now, as those people are literally sifting through the rubble of their lives or mourning family members. And MotoGP could do the nice thing and refund those tickets. But it's just choosing not to.
"We feel sorry for Valencia, but we will try to help them in any way possible," added Ezpeleta. Though I'm suspicious of that sympathy, especially since he later stated, "They have been a couple of very complicated days, much more for the Valencian Community, of course, but we thought that - given the situation in which the Championship is, sportingly speaking, but also for fans from all over the world - we believed that it was important to celebrate a final event of the season. We owe it to the paddock and our fans"
Yeah, I totally believe you're sorry.
MotoGP could've stayed in Malaysia. It could've gone to Qatar, Abu Dhabi, or countless other countries around the world. It has the infrastructure and cash reserves to do so. It could've held a doubleheader finale with Formula 1 and made so much money that then could have been used to help Spain and its affected peoples. Imagine the ticket prices or donations Liberty Media could've taken in from the first F1/MotoGP doubleheader and it being a season finale for both.
But it didn't. It decided that the best way to help Spain was to go to Spain, just not in the affected region, even though the same storm is heading straight for Catalunya. That makes literally no sense.
Likewise, I take particular issue with MotoGP's statements on the relief funds. In the release, the series states, "MotoGP stands with the Community of Valencia following the devastating floods that have affected the area. We said it when we announced the Grand Prix would not go ahead this season, and we’ll keep saying it as we work on creating a real impact to help. In lieu of racing in Valencia, MotoGP is instead racing for Valencia. We’re putting 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. We’ve started but there’s much more to come. Want to be part of it? Join many in the paddock and donate to the official relief fund HERE."
But did you catch what's missing there? Any sort of "We'll be donating a portion of ticket prices," or "We'll be matching donations made by the public" or anything real in regards to any sort of actual monetary disaster relief. No, MotoGP—a multi-billion-dollar empire—asked you and I to help the region. Normal folks with bills and mortgages and our own disasters to manage. What horseshit.
Again, MotoGP could've gone literally anywhere else. Or it could've literally just stayed put in Malaysia. Either would've been perfectly understandable. Instead, the series will try and head to Spain and further tax critical infrastructure and a country in pain and mourning. I find Ezpeleta, and everyone else involved in this decision, morally bankrupt to a degree that I'd rather just not watch the season finale.
I hope both the Catalunyan and the Spanish government tell them to eat it. But more than that, I send my sympathies and condolences to those affected. If you want do have the means to help, here's where you can donate to the disaster relief.
