Beloved race track destroyed and swept away with car park underwater just two weeks before hosting huge MotoGP event
FLOODING in the Valencia region of Spain has left the season finale of MotoGP in jeopardy.
The final round of the major motorcycle race is due to take place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo on November 17.
However, devastating flash floods in the south-east of the country have caused extensive damage to the race track and surrounding area.
Footage captured on social media showed the main entrance to the race track – opened in 1999 – swept away and impassable with cracks and sinkholes in the road with detritus littered across it.
The Race have reported that the circuit’s external car parks have also been flooded.
The surrounding villages of Cheste and Chiva near the circuit have been hit hard by the floods, with water in some areas said to have risen to three metres.
At least 62 people are confirmed to have been tragically killed by the extreme weather conditions, with many more still missing.
Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE: “Yesterday was the worst day of my life.
“We were trapped like rats. Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to three metres.”
MotoGP organisers Dorna are unlikely to want to place local authorities under more unnecessary pressure given the toll relief efforts are taking.
The major sporting event would be expected to bring around 100,000 people into the area.
Earlier this season, extensive flooding in Kazakhstan saw what should have been the inaugural race at the Sokol circuit delayed before being cancelled.
Should Valencia follow suit, it leaves Dorna with a headache on finding a substitute venue on just two weeks notice.
This consequence of this could see this weekend’s penultimate race of the season at the Malaysia Grand Prix be the season decider.
Just 17 points separate Prima’s championship leader Jorge Martin from Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia.
There is a chance European circuits such as ex-Formula One circuit Portimao, Portugal or Jerez in south-west Spain could be emergency hosts.
However, this has its own major logistical hurdles for both organisers and the teams and would need to happen at a reduced capacity.
MotoGP is not the only motorsport event hit by floods, with Formula E’s pre-season testing due to take place next week now under threat.
A statement from Formula E said: “Our thoughts go out to those directly affected by the extreme weather conditions in Spain.
“We are working closely with the local authorities and representatives of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia ahead of the scheduled FIA Formula E official test next week.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates in due course.”
Football in the region has also been postponed, with first round Copa del Rey matches between Parla Escuela-Fair Play and Valencia and Pontevedra CF and Levante postponed.
The Valencia circuit was also hit by bad luck last year as a man was rushed to hospital following an explosion in a team garage before Formula E testing.
F1 was hit by floods at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May 2023, with the Imola race being cancelled because it was not safe to hold the event due to emergency services dealing with floods at the time.
Earlier this year, it was announced that F1 owners Liberty Media were set to complete a £3.6billion purchase of MotoGP from Dorna at the end of 2024.
Dorna have owned the sport since 1992, and will retain a 14 per cent share once the deal has concluded.
But a Belgian MEP asked the European Commission to investigate the deal over fears it would create a monopoly in motorsport.
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