Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, responds to some criticisms and dusts off the times of Valentino Rossi.
The championship MotoGP returned to normal in 2022 after two years marked by the pandemic. Above all, the calendar has revised the Asian and American stages and is preparing for the 2023 revolution, with the new format characterized by the introduction of sprint races and 21 scheduled races. Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta knows he has to shake up the show, but without causing alarm.
Someone had proposed to follow the F1 model and introduce the Sprint Race only on some weekends, an idea that the Spanish manager rejects. “If we want to give a boost to the Sabbath activity, you need to standardize it“. Consequently, the time available for Sunday warm-up is reduced to give more space to the meeting between riders and fans on the circuit. “It cannot be guaranteed for some GPs and not for others“.
The rivalry at the time of Valentino Rossi
Many underline the progress made by Formula 1 to increase the level of popularity. But Carmelo Ezpeletain an interview with the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com, recalls how until a few years ago the roles were reversed, it was the MotoGP that dominated: “Recently, F1 was struggling and we were the best. What you have to try is to focus on your own and work to the best of your ability”.
After all, the World Championship pays the farewell of Valentino Rossi at the races and expect new legends to flourish. He certainly does not regret the 2015 season finale, marked by the strong rivalry between the Doctor and Marc Marquezwhen newspapers from all over the world were talking about MotoGP: “I already said I didn’t like it. It might be too naïve, but I think the rivalry needs to focus on your desire to win. I didn’t think the World Championship final was particularly tough… I didn’t like that Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa didn’t talk to each other, and even less that Rossi and Biaggi fought while climbing the steps to the podium at Montmeló“.
Today the pilots have the utmost mutual respect, creating an atmosphere that according to many puts the show to sleep. Isn’t this perhaps one of the causes of the decline of the category in the media? “In boxing, it is clear that the organizer wants the boxers to insult and spit on each other during the weigh-in. But I don’t agree. For example, it’s okay for me to win but not to make fun of the loser“. Finally to those who accuse him of nepotism for having chosen his nephew Tome Alfonsowho is his nephew, who is in charge of safety for the grand prix, and his son Carlos as sporting director, he replies: “If you know someone with the same background, please introduce them to us and we will hire them“.
