MotoGP Singapore in 2011

[motocafe]

Friday October 31, 2008 http://www.todayonline.com

 

Hot on the wheels of Formula 1, motorcycle championship MotoGP is headed to town

 

Ian De Cotta

 

formula 1 correspondent

[email protected]

 

NOW that Singapore has established itself as a premier venue for Formula 1, get ready for the biggest and fastest thing on two wheels. MotoGP, the motorbike equivalent of F1, is set to make its debut here as early as 2011 when Singapore’s first permanent race track is completed. Speaking from his Madrid office in Spain, MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta told Today that his company Dorna Sports, which holds the commercial rights to MotoGP, has signed an agreement with a Singaporean company to stage a round of the 18-leg world championships here, when the planned track is completed.

 

The 61-year-old Spaniard, who is to Moto-GP what Bernie Ecclestone is to Formula 1, also said that Singapore is an important part of the sport’s growth plans, as it is a key financial centre in the middle of an important region of the world.

 

Although Today is unable to name the Singapore promoter, who sealed the deal in Madrid about two months ago, due to contractual sensitivities, Ezpeleta said: Yes, I can confirm that we have signed an agreement with a promoter to stage a round of the motorbike world championships in Singapore.

 

“But it depends when the permanent track you are going to build will be completed. I understand it will be up in three years’ time, so you can have a race there as early as 2011, if not 2012.”

 

Matching Formula 1

 

MotoGP motorbikes can reach top speeds of about 340kmh, compared to 370kmh for F1 cars, and Dorna claim they have an average television audience of about 350 million viewers across 200 countries for each race.

 

In terms of economic impact, organisers of the MotoGP event at Laguna Seca, California, say the annual event there contributes about US$100 million ($146 milion) into the Monterey area surrounding the track, which is on par with spill-off revenues generated by F1 races.

 

But unlike F1 — with some Grands Prix held on street circuits, including Singapore — MotoGP hold all their races on purposebuilt racing circuits.

 

Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, said at last month’s F1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix that the permanent circuit in Changi is on track to be completed in 2011. Although 20 hectares have been allocated for the project, he also said the Government is willing to consider releasing more land should there be a need.

 

And despite the difficult economic climate, Singapore Sports Council chief executive officer Oon Jin Teik said that plans for the track will go ahead. “The Changi racetrack is a major component of SSC’s overall motor sports industry development plan in Singapore and it is intended to be funded by the private sector,” said Oon.

 

“The current financial climate will have an impact on the types and number of bidders that we will be able to attract. Nonetheless, it can only serve to improve their quality and proposals. Weaker players are unlikely to participate while stronger ones will need to put together even better proposals that will enable them to secure financial backing. Based on the feedback we’re receiving, potential investors are still upbeat about the project.”

 

Friendlier ticket prices

 

In their regulations for 2008, the sport’s world governing body, the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), has stipulated that tracks hosting MotoGP races must be at least 3.5km long.

 

But Ezpeleta would like to see them longer than that. “We prefer a race track with a length of at least 4km to 4.5km, but safety is our top priority,” he said.

 

“It would be good also if the track could hold at least 70,000 people, but I am leaving that to the promoter in Singapore to decide. “Asia is important to MotoGP’s growth and Singapore is at the centre of it, that is

why we want to hold a round there. But like I said, my agreement with the promoter in Singapore is subject to the track being built.”

 

There is an added attraction to MotoGP, as ticket prices are far more affordable. At the Malaysian MotoGP race earlier this month, a seat at the main grandstand cost about RM230 ($95), compared to about RM1,800 for the same seat at the Formula 1 race there in April this year.

 

But Ezpeleta, who has an “unwritten agreement” with Ecclestone to ensure their events don’t clash, said: “If Singapore’s F1 race is in September, we will have no choice but to plan a MotoGP race to be held there in early 2011.”

[hotbladerz]

Wowwww~!!!! Finally!! MotoGP will be coming to Singapore at 2011!!

Great news for MotoGP enthusiastic!! Would love to watch MotoGP live infront of our eyes!

Well done Singapore!

Well, where's the land that they are going to build actually?

Changi is it?

[benny 1o]

gd! finally! haha.

 

anyway, motogp sepang only 80rm wat..

[ahboon]

hope Rossi signs another yr

[vroooom_R1 98]

dun care lah how much once a year but must be reasonable ah.

. finally MOTOGP ic coming to town!!!!!

[wandoink]

woooo...a gp track here in singapore..cooll..cant wait..hmm, shud i take up motard bike or a class 2 sportbike..hmmmm...hahaha

[rein_jahat14]

Excellent News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Great news for the Track/biking local scene...

:thumb: :thumb:

 

Look forward for it....

[FrdAuZ]

POWER... but tix sure ex!

[ongsujie]

yeah!!! din expect that fast!! i stay in east somemore!! hope everything goes well!!

[DaN zI]

Yup Finally , woke up read the news in yahoo aHaha ! And its PERMANANT track ! unlike F1

[Raptor]

Get the leathers and get on the tracks now.

 

Racing on public roads will be going out of style.

[eFzek17]

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081031/tap-693-more-roar-singapore-231650b.html

[omarmukthar]

finally can go watch motogp with our bikes parked outside n nt worrying bout it being stolen..

[kurarensu]

the track will be built @ changi.. but hell noes whether it will be completed on time anot.. cos i dont see any progression lols..

 

 

but hope the motoring scene in sg will be larger.. then we will have more space and area to play our bikes..(tracks i mean).. and of cos at a affordable rate.. ltr bloody hell charge $40SGD/hr tat kind who want go siah..!!

[eyke]

the track will be built @ changi.. but hell noes whether it will be completed on time anot.. cos i dont see any progression lols..

 

tender specs not ready, how to see progress?

[Stardust83]

finally can go watch motogp with our bikes parked outside n nt worrying bout it being stolen..

 

Well said ! lolx..

 

But then again if the prices of the tix is high then i see no point sia....

[vroooom_R1 98]

Well said ! lolx..

 

But then again if the prices of the tix is high then i see no point sia....

 

well bro moto gp is once a year......

if u go malaysia watch motogp u must spend on toll, spend on petrol, saftey wise it a long way to KL u know eventhough accident can happen aniwhere but the risk is higher.

 

well at least SGp govt is making gd use of our tax $ to make a Track for us...

[Stardust83]

well bro moto gp is once a year......

if u go malaysia watch motogp u must spend on toll, spend on petrol, saftey wise it a long way to KL u know eventhough accident can happen aniwhere but the risk is higher.

 

well at least SGp govt is making gd use of our tax $ to make a Track for us...

 

lolx.yah i tink the good thing is that no need to travel so far.

[fruitcakepablohoney]

Guys, the Changi Circuit is not even out for tender yet. Some issues that need to be sorted out is the land space. Last i heard is, this will be a members track, in other words, it's for the RICH bas#@$ds! So guys, don't be too happy yet.

[ragnaphobia]

i still think its better than nothing. i dont mind paying a hundred bucks for it.

 

or even 40 dollars/hr for track usage. it saves me all the trouble to go to PG and go to Sepang for GP.

[steel_headz]

At last MotoGP in spore...

[fran_rivers]

glad that MotoGP is here finally..

Hope Rossi still in MotoGP in 2011.

[--BuSa--YoNg--]

Hahaha, but guy 2 u think tat hw big is e track n 4 sepang if im nt wrong is 5-5.5km...... But hw much do u think hw big it will b...... Wat if e track is oni bout 3.5-4km everyone will b sad including gp racer.... Hope 2 c e track out soon n hope is big enough so i can bring my son when he is 3yr old haha.....

[greysnail]

if they gonna make like Donington which i believe the track width is smaller than Sepang,its gonna be a challenge for them.

[desmondekker]

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/171205-0/singapore_round_planned_for_2011.html

 

wow! hopefully there'll be trackdays like any other track.