Potential MotoGP Rule Change Faces Severe Backlash From Riders

Saajan Jogia | Aug 26, 2024

Apr 13, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Maverick Vinales (12) of Spain and Aprilia Racing and Marc Marquez (93) of Spain and Gresini Racing MotoGP and Pedro Acosta (31) of Spain and Red Bull Tech3 GASGAS during the Americas Grand Prix sprint race at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Several MotoGP riders have responded to claims made by Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta that the participation of Spanish and Italian riders on the racing grid will be limited in the coming years to promote a more diverse grid of riders in the premier class.

When the proposal was presented to the Spanish and Italian riders on the grid, it faced disagreement. Many riders argued that they endure just as many challenges and sacrifices to reach this level and that a rider’s nationality should not overshadow their performance as the deciding factor.

As reported by Motorsport.com, here's what Ezpeleta said in a recent interview, comparing the nationality-based restriction planned for MotoGP, to the Olympics. He said:

"The best should be there, but it is easier to be better if you are Italian or Spanish. It should be like the Olympic Games, three Americans go, and if you are the fourth American, you don't go, even if you are better than those from other countries."

A few of MotoGP's Spanish and Italian riders have offered their opinion on the matter, reacting to
Ezpeleta's comments.

Luca Marini revealed that the factor behind the success of Spanish and Italian riders needs to be looked into. He said:

“You have to understand why the level of the Spanish and Italian riders is so high and they are in MotoGP because they are the best in the world, not because they are Italian or Spanish.

“If we had the possibility to find riders of other nationalities of the same level, they would come.

“But, in my opinion, both in Spain and in Italy there is a culture, a passion and an organisation from the time they are teenagers, even children, that allows them to grow as riders and reach the top category, while in other countries it seems to be more difficult to develop.

“We'll see how things go, but if that's the case [as Ezpeleta suggested] we'll have to be among the top three Italian drivers, it's no problem at all.”

Raul Fernandez explained his theory:

“How many British or Anglo-Saxons are there in F1?

“I don't think it's a question of nationality, surely we Italians and Spaniards are better because of how difficult it is for us to get here. Surely, if we were of another nationality, we would have more help in terms of junior championships.

“In Spain, it is very difficult, personally, what I have experienced is a lot of work and struggle to get to MotoGP, without forgetting the sacrifices of the family.

“Apart from that there is the issue of what the factories want. If you go to, for example, Honda and tell them that they have to take three riders of this or that nationality, they will tell you that they don't put 50 million into a project so you can tell them which riders they have to put in.

“What you have to see is that the riders sacrifice a lot and what you have to look at are the results. It's a pity that a rider like [Moto2 points leader] Sergio Garcia, with what he has fought for and is doing, doesn't have a place in MotoGP, so why do you have to work so hard? It's frustrating, if you can't make it, what are you going to try for?”

Alex Rins thinks a potential restriction could have serious consequences for aspiring riders from Italy and Spain. He added:

“Honestly, it's very difficult to manage an issue like this.

“It has always been said that Spain and Italy have very good riders, and that is what has brought us here, in MotoGP but also in Moto2 and Moto3.

“Controlling this, I don't know, I think it will affect young riders coming into the world championship more than those of us who are already here.”

Austo Fernandez, who is in his last season as a full-time MotoGP rider, revealed that his passport has never made things easy for him. He said:

“It's always been like that for the Spanish and Italians to be in MotoGP, we've had to win in everything we've done.

“We have never had any ease because of our passport, but if we are here it is because there are no riders from other countries better than those of us who are here.

“We are Spanish, and proud to be, but we know that you have to win to be here. I myself am out now and we will have to prove a lot to be able to be here again.”

Aleix Espargaro highlighted the intense competition among riders in Spain and Italy, suggesting the sport can't 'fight against nature'. He said:

"Obviously it would be nice to have fourteen different nationalities in MotoGP, but this is the elite [category] and the best have to be in the elite [category], wherever they are from.

"This is not something new, it's been known for years. When I was in Moto2, if I had been of another nationality I would have moved up earlier, but if you're Spanish or Italian there aren't that many spaces.

"It's the reality.

“The championship is investing in Asia and other regions by creating promotional cups so that people come from there, but luckily in Spain and Italy they don't need to invest because we already have very good championships from the federations, and many riders come up.

“You can't fight against the nature that the best riders are from certain countries. And if you look at the bottom [categories], it's even worse, because all the riders coming up are Spanish and Italian.

“It would be ideal if the fourteen fastest riders in the world were from fourteen different countries, and you can help with promotion championships so that one day it will be like that, but you can't fight against the nature that, at the moment, the best riders are from where they come from.”