MotoGP Gossip: Ezpeleta never wants a MotoGP title finish similar to F1

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, has acknowledged that a MotoGP title decider with an outcome similar to the one we saw in F1 would be bad for the sport. 

Speaking to Marca, Ezpeleta said: "I would not like to have a MotoGP finish like the one in F1. I wish there were two drivers fighting for the title in the last race, but the way the whole thing played out... Not for or against anything. 

"It has been a fantastic championship, fought throughout the year and, in the end, has caused controversies that are not good. 

"I like to have a championship that if possible goes until the very end, but I don't like that after the end they create doubt, that the runner-up doesn't talk anymore. I certainly don't dream about it." [Marca.com]

For those who don’t know, the F1 title decider was dominated by Lewis Hamilton who looked set to win an eighth world championship before a late safety car allowed Max Verstappen to pit for fresh tyres. 

With six cars between Hamilton and Verstappen, and race director Michael Masi initially saying no cars would be allowed past, a title win looked increasingly likely for the Mercedes driver. However, a sudden change with half the penultimate lap left to run saw the lapped cars between the two title protagonists make their way past Hamilton, but not those who were behind Verstappen. 

The decision to only allow some lapped cars to unlap themselves is unusual as Article 48.12 of the F1 regulations suggests a message reading ‘lapped cars may now overtake’ should be sent to all competitors.

The Red Bull driver as expected made his soft tyres count against Hamilton who was on used hard tyres to take a miraculous, but controversial title win.

The closest controversy MotoGP has had in recent seasons was the fall out between Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi at Sepang in 2015. After countless laps of fierce racing, Marquez crashed when the two made contact at turn 14.

This incident took place with Rossi in the midst of fighting for a tenth world title against Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, with the former eventually coming out victorious due to Rossi having to start at the back of the grid for the final race in Valencia. 

Describing the incident which saw both rivals clash during the Malaysian grand prix, Ezpeleta called it a ‘mess’ that he would never ‘dream’ about seeing again.  

Finally, Joan Mir has made his thoughts clear to Suzuki about needing a new Team Manager for 2022. 

Suzuki, who won the 2020 MotoGP title with Davide Brivio in that role, decided not to fill his void for 2021 after Brivio left to join Alpine in F1.

"Certainly the team changed a bit. Sahara had to take over Davide's job and role in addition to continuing his duties. It was really difficult for him." Mir told SPEEDWEEK. 

"Other people also had to do some work that was not actually part of their job. I believe a team manager would help to put everything in its proper place. We need that, that's for sure." 

"I have expressed my opinion to Suzuki, but that remains between me and Suzuki. Anyway, I trust them." [Speedweek.com]