Opinion: MotoGP and F1 can’t use the same Circuits Anymore

Over the last few seasons, there has been an issue that continuously seems to keep reoccurring. MotoGP and perhaps motorcycle racing on a whole has, for the last decade or so, been the go-to choice for motorsport fans.

More action, more drama, more clashes, more rivalries and some might say, more glamour – all of which means, more fans. So why are the leading motorcycle championships being marginalised in terms of safety at some circuits, just to make way for F1 and Indycar?

There is only one solution: stop MotoGP races taking place at F1 circuits and stop F1 using circuits that MotoGP already use. It is all very good having the ‘main championships’ attend your circuit, but it is getting beyond a joke now and people are starting to voice concerns.

Maybe this needs more explanation, so let me simplify. Demands are different for cars and motorcycles. Cars often require large tarmac run-off whereas bikes need gravel traps; reasons being that cars can use the run off to prevent being beached in gravel, and bikes need gravel so that bikes, but primarily riders, don’t reach the barriers. However, there’s one thing that is happening that no matter what kind of ‘track lining’ you use will change: cars are rippling the track and causing horrendous bumps for motorcycles.

Of the 19 MotoGP circuits, four of them are used by Formula 1. All four have had problems in recent memories, leading to everything from tragedies to cancellations, track re-surfacing and even modification. Year after year, the same culprits are causing problems for the motorcycles and year after year, the bikes return with more risk than a year previous. It is time to make the circuits make a choice.

Let’s start with the timely Circuit of the Americas, or COTA for short. Built for the 2013 racing season, MotoGP were the first to arrive at the 20-corner, undulating Texan complex. A great circuit? Unquestionably. A fantastic facility for fans and staff? Unequivocally. Characterised by true America and partisan? Undoubtedly. Safe for cars AND bikes? No, unfortunately.

The bumps witnessed at this weekend’s MotoGP event are just horrendous and have “catastrophe” etched into the side of each crater. Turn 2, Turn 11 and Turn 18 are actually beyond a joke for motorcycle racing – especially MotoGP. A rider crashing due to a bump on the opening lap bares disastrous consequences; at Turn 2 anyway, a MotoGP bike can reach barriers – remember Rossi in 2016? The Turn 11 bump is fierce and crash at that speed is scary, whilst Turn 18 has already unseated top riders. You can have as much run-off as you like, but a bike hitting another machine that has gone down could have dire consequences.

And now people are pointing to the fact of that of the topography of the land and what it features, with it being soft underneath and therefore adding to another reason for the bumps and jumps. Well one solution: stop going to COTA. The track is currently clearly not fit for purpose so move the American MotoGP elsewhere – or force COTA to do something about their issue and find a replacement round until they have done so.

On to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the same thing has to be said. Yes, it is now one of the circuits which is probably acceptable to have both F1 and MotoGP thanks to changes made. The death of Luis Salom, caused by ripples and bumps and then made worse by the lack of gravel run-off, was a huge wake up call that we needed to pay attention to the demands of cars and bikes. For now, it is OK and perhaps an example of rectifying an issue – but that was reactive, circuits and perhaps even organisers, need to be proactive.

The Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring may be a commercial dream and thrilling atmosphere but that again is a circuit which is already teetering on the edge of being on the wrong side of danger. I believe it was the opening season when we went to Austria, back in 2016, that we had Dani Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda and Stefan Bradl’s Gresini Aprilia hit barriers on the opening day. In the race, Sam Lowes was a crasher, with his bike hitting the barriers at the penultimate turn and as for that last corner, there is no run off whatsoever, which is a scary prospect for the likes of motorcycle racing.

In ten years, the Red Bull Ring will not be on the calendar – not in the state it is in now. Whilst in the last two seasons it has provided thrilling racing, it’s all a bit too close to the danger aspect and it is hardly a fantastic circuit anyway. Bin it off.

That leaves Silverstone, oh the wonderful Silverstone. Without doubt one of the best circuits on the respective calendars, it has been one of the best races for many seasons in both championships. But in 2018, we saw something completely bizarre. An absolute balls-up with resurfacing, combined with an uncharacteristically hot British summer which baked the new tarmac to an impermeable smooth sheet, meant that when it did eventually rain again, the track simply flooded.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with the circuit in the dry, with run-off aplenty at pretty much every corner, but in the wet it is simply not fit for purpose in bike racing. And let’s be honest, if you can’t race in the rain in the UK, then you may as well not bother. But where is the alternative for a British GP? You need one with such a high British interest and such good coverage in the nation, there always has been one and for the time being, there must continue to be one.

Circuits need to decide which they value more; MotoGP: the world’s biggest motocycle series, or Formula 1: the world’s biggest single-seater series. At this current time, it is getting unacceptable for motorcycle racing to race on circuits where issues are caused either by the F1 cars on circuits, or the demands they need to race on the circuit. Maybe the FIM and FIA need to collaborate if they want things to stay the same.

What direct replacements do we have for the three questionable rounds – seeing as Catalunya has been 95% solved? Well in the USA, you have the option of, nothing. I mean, Road America would be good but facilities would need improving, whilst also some areas of the circuit need addressing too. Indianapolis would also be OK but the last corner exit speed is a bit too much in terms of the proximity to the concrete wall that awaits. Laguna Seca, I hear you scream? Possibly but even that these days is getting on for a bit too dangerous and there just simply isn’t room for all three classes.

In terms of the Austrian Grand Prix, I don’t think riders and fans are that bothered about going: it isn’t very well liked and although KTM have a huge, loyal home crowd, safety must take priority. The Salzburgring is literally the only alternative and that is certainly not an option anymore. Maybe barriers just need pushing back at the circuit but the high speeds that the track offers suggest to me that they just won’t be pushed back far enough.

As for Silverstone’s replacement, we could always have Donington Park but even that isn’t as safe as it could be, nor would it be big enough to sustain the massive MotoGP paddock and the demands of the fans (although circuit viewing is considerably better). And sadly for us plucky Brits, it doesn’t get much more than that – there is nowhere else in the UK that can host the round.

So, is it time that we finally break away from attending the same circuits that F1 use? Can it be sustained any longer; the delays, cancellations and huge crashes and ripples? There needs to be a shake-up, as for the second time in eleven MotoGP rounds, problems have occurred – and both have been at circuit which F1 also use.