MotoGP riders sign petition over Japanese Grand Prix

MotoGP News
Date: 4/7/2011

All but one MotoGP rider has signed a petition saying that they don't want to go to the Japanese Grand Prix, due to radiation fears.

The event, held at the Honda-owned Motegi circuit, has been moved from its late April date to October 2, following this year's earthquake and tsunami.

However, the risk of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant continues to worry the riders.

Motegi is just over 100km from the radiation leak, but with no firm evidence of any danger - and light damage to the track already repaired - MotoGP organisers have made clear that, unless they receive evidence to the contrary, the event will go ahead.

That stance has angered the riders, who feel they are not being listed to.

Speaking after Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, world championship leader Casey Stoner explained the situation.

"Yes. Just about every rider has signed this petition, basically to comment on the fact that we're not happy with the situation," confirmed Stoner. "Our views weren't taken into consideration. And, for us, we don’t want to go. Every rider bar one signed it."

The only name not on the petition is that of Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama.

The FIM, MotoGP's governing body, was due to make a final announcement on the status of the Japanese round at the Italian GP, but - perhaps due to the letter - that didn’t happen.

Instead, a statement was released by FIM president Vito Ippolito, which re-confirmed that the race would "in principle" go ahead as planned - but then indicated that the decision will hinge on an upcoming report.

"The FIM is awaiting the results of a report conducted by an independent European agency on the conditions prevailing in Motegi that will be released later this month," he said.