Interview to Carmelo Ezpeleta a few days before the start of a new season of the MotoGP World Championship. will be the March 6, in Qatar and the CEO of Dorna perceives good feelings before the red light goes out and the engines roar under the Losail lights
-What feelings do you have a few days before the start of a new season?
-Good sensations. Following the steps that were planned. We have been able to do the two MotoGP pre-season tests that were scheduled, in Malaysia and Mandalika, and they have gone well. Things need to be polished in Mandalika, but we are happy and the bikes are as they were last year, very close, so a fun championship is expected.
-In some statements you made this winter I read that it was not clear to you that the 21 appointments planned for this season could be made, but at least 19. Which ones can be in danger?
-I did not say that. I said that we are going to try to do the 21 and that, if it was not possible, we would go to 19, but at the moment there is not one that is not going to be able to do.
-What joy the good return of Marc Márquez must have given you. MotoGP couldn’t afford to lose him and Valentino Rossi at the same time, right?
-What we can afford or not is something that does not depend on us. We would like to have Valentino, Marc and Doohan too, but that is not possible. I never doubted that Marc would be back. He was there last year and won three grands prix in a transition year. (Smile).
-He has said that there were times this winter when he did not know if he would be able to compete again. How much did that possibility bother you?
-When you’re sick it’s your issue, intern, but I was sure he’d come back.
-With the return of Ana Carrasco to Moto3 there will once again be a female presence in the World Championship. How do you assess this fact?
-Well. I hope you are lucky. I think he will do well, if he has a good team and gets used to Moto3 again, which is very competitive now. You will do well and your presence is very important.
-Do you sign a 2022 like 2021 at an organizational level or do you expect improvements?
Every year it has to be better.
-Is the World Cup closer to full normality?
-It looks like it is. We are not very experts in viruses, but in organizing races we are and I think things are going well.
-Have you ever considered doing a GP of Nations in MotoGP as it is done in other modalities?
-We have thought about it several times, but it is very difficult.
-What is complicated?
-The contracts of the pilots with the factories. What bikes would you race with and what team do you make?
-Let each one run with his motorcycle…
-A format would be three pilots representing each country. In Spain there would be plenty of riders, but there are only seven nations with riders in MotoGP. In addition, the calendar does not give for more. No more runs can be made.
-Have a good racing year.
-Thanks. We hope so.