Race Direction and team representatives agrees to suspend all on-track operations at Motegi due to the bad weather conditions. There will be no GP action today, as all the three classes are affected by this decision.
The main problem is a safety one, but rain itself has nothing to do with the restriction. It's the fog and Japanese aviation laws which prevent the safe arrival and take-off of the medical air ambulance helicopter which hampers the racing weekend.
Mike Webb from the Race Direction and Herve Poncharal, head of the IRTA (International road Racing Teams Association) have both confirmed that the dense fog makes it both impossible and illegal for the medical helicopter to operate in case of need.
Safety reasons forbid any racing activity in such conditions. In case of a a very serious crash, the rider in need of medical care which cannot be provided on site, the air ambulance is the only approved method of transportation to the designated hospital. No heli, no racing, to put it blunt.
The Race Direction and team representatives are waiting to see how the weather will be on Saturday morning and then decide which course of action will be followed.
There are several contingency plans being considered, including spreading the FP and Q over to Saturday and Sunday, half a Saturday and a full Sunday or a condensed practice-qualifying-race routine for all classes on Sunday, as the last-resort solution.
A single, longer practice session was also mentioned, as well as the helicopter being brought to the premises by road in a dissembled state and reassembled. At the same time, multiple take-off zones are being considered and everyone hopes they will be outside the could zone.
From what we know, rain is expected tomorrow, too, but all hopes lie with the higher cloud layer. We'll keep you posted on the Motegi operations.
MotoGP.com has a video of the Motegi Twin Ring Circuit and officials talking on the matter (requires free login).
Mike Webb from the Race Direction and Herve Poncharal, head of the IRTA (International road Racing Teams Association) have both confirmed that the dense fog makes it both impossible and illegal for the medical helicopter to operate in case of need.
Safety reasons forbid any racing activity in such conditions. In case of a a very serious crash, the rider in need of medical care which cannot be provided on site, the air ambulance is the only approved method of transportation to the designated hospital. No heli, no racing, to put it blunt.
The Race Direction and team representatives are waiting to see how the weather will be on Saturday morning and then decide which course of action will be followed.
There are several contingency plans being considered, including spreading the FP and Q over to Saturday and Sunday, half a Saturday and a full Sunday or a condensed practice-qualifying-race routine for all classes on Sunday, as the last-resort solution.
A single, longer practice session was also mentioned, as well as the helicopter being brought to the premises by road in a dissembled state and reassembled. At the same time, multiple take-off zones are being considered and everyone hopes they will be outside the could zone.
From what we know, rain is expected tomorrow, too, but all hopes lie with the higher cloud layer. We'll keep you posted on the Motegi operations.
MotoGP.com has a video of the Motegi Twin Ring Circuit and officials talking on the matter (requires free login).
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