The MotoGP calendar will have a record number of 21 Grand Prix races in 2024 – originally there were 22, but the one in Argentina had to be canceled. With the introduction of Sprint races last year, the program has become even more exhausting. Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, would prefer a shorter calendar, even if it meant a smaller presence in Europe to focus on key markets.
The Italian stated to the press when asked about whether he would be in favor of a decrease in the number of Grand Prix races: ‘If you ask our families, they agree. To be honest, we haven’t talked to Dorna about it. We talked in the beginning, but it’s not a recent discussion. I also know that we have to sell something for the benefit of motorcycle racing as an event. I also have to say that after this year of experience having the Sprint race, personally I ended the year completely destroyed because on Friday you’re already in qualifying mode and when you’re in qualifying mode, everyone is – the tension, the expectation. So every weekend on Sunday night we are very tired. But the season was exhausting’.
Rivola continued: ‘To think about 21 or 22 [GP], that means 42 or 44 races, is certainly a lot. If you can have less than that, it will surely be beneficial. Whether it’s good for motorcycle racing, this is something we need to sit down maybe with Carmelo [Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna] and understand’.
For the leader of Aprilia, one path to follow could be fewer races in Europe and more focus on money and the market: ‘I am Italian, but maybe we should have fewer races in Italy, fewer races in Spain, maybe fewer races in Europe, and go, let me put it in a bad way, where the money is. Because we need to manage this business in a certain way. We need big sponsors in this business. To attract them, maybe we need to go… it’s good to go to Indonesia, it’s very good to go to India. So, let’s go to the places where the money is – or the market for motorcycles‘.
