He Kazakhstan GP of motorcycling, scheduled for June 14 to 16, was postponed sine die due to unprecedented floods in Central Asia that caused a national emergency in the country for three weeks with nearly 100,000 displaced from their home Due to this dire FIM situation, Dorna and IRTA made the decision more than a month before the first Kazakhstan GP to cancel the event “for later in 2024”, although this is unlikely to happen given the already tight calendar between . September and November.
The initial calendar of 2024 contemplated 22 Grand Prix, Argentina, which would be the third GP, has collapsed and could finally be reduced to 20 GP if the Sokol is definitely cancelled.
According to the statement released this Friday, “there is no responsibility for MotoGP to add any additional burden to the authorities or services as they work to help the thousands of people affected throughout the country. Therefore, the Sokol International Racetrack will not will host MotoGP on previously announced dates, and any further updates will be posted once confirmed.”
The floods occurred at the beginning of April and the most affected area is almost on the border with Russia and crossed by rivers flowing from or to Russia, in the north of the vast country the size of Argentina. According to a statement reported by The Astana Times newspaper, “this is probably the biggest disaster in terms of scale and consequences in more than 80 years,” Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in his address to the country in April 6. Before that, Tokayev criticized the government structures for negligence and lack of professionalism and there was quite a bit of social backlash inside the country.
With a contract signed until 2027, the first Kazakhstan GP was scheduled to be held in 2023, but then “homologation work on the route as well as global operational challenges” were cited for its definitive cancellation. It will be the thirtieth country to host a Grand Prix and the 74th different track where the world championship has been held.
The Sokol International Racetrack is a route designed by the German Hermann Tilke office, 4,495 meters long and 15 meters wide with a total of 13 curves – eight left and five right – traveled clockwise. It is located in a large automobile complex located about 70 kilometers from the capital Almaty.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
