Suzuka loses 2004 MotoGP event

[Barton]

The FIM have today announced that the Suzuka Circuit will not be able to complete stringent modifications in time for the first round of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship and the event has therefore been scrapped from the provisional calendar, with the Japanese Grand Prix title now going to the Motegi event in October.

No replacement Grand Prix has been announced, with the championship maintaining its 16 round formula thanks to the recent addition of Qatar. The following is a press statement from the FIM:

“The Suzuka Circuit has established a long-term programme of works including various modifications aiming at improving the circuit, principally the safety in view of the Grand Prix counting towards the MotoGP World Championship. This programme of modifications to improve safety has been discussed at length with the Grand Prix Safety Commission. These modifications, however, cannot be carried out before the Grand Prix originally scheduled in April next. For this reason, an agreement has been reached according to which the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix, originally scheduled on 4 April next, will not take place on the circuit of Suzuka.”




“The FIM created the Grand Prix Safety Commission last May. The role of this Grand Prix Safety Commission is to work on improving the safety around the MotoGP World Championship circuits, following the evolution of Grand Prix racing in recent years, and particularly due to a recent technical evolution which includes an increase in performances of the new MotoGP motorcycles. In this aspect, the FIM requested the MSMA (Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers' Association) to review the technical regulations taking into account the general performances and behaviour of the racing motorcycles and its consequences on safety.”

“Regarding the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix, the circuit of Suzuka and the FIM will keep on the discussions in an effort to organise this Grand Prix again as the season opener on the circuit of Suzuka.”

“Moreover, in agreement with the FIM and Dorna, the Grand Prix scheduled on the circuit of Twin Ring Motegi on 19 September 2004 will bear the title of Japanese Grand Prix.”

[lone_groover]

First thing they should work on is the 'NECKCAR-quality medical response. Not just at Suzuka, but throughout Japan.


:thumdown: :mad: :thumdown:

[chop456]

What was changed at 130R after McNish's little crackup there last year?

[Treeface]

Safety my butt. Hucking Fonda

[Ankf00]

Originally posted by chop456
What was changed at 130R after McNish's little crackup there last year?

McNish escaped with his life and full brain intact, Daijiro Katoh wasn't so lucky :(

also: IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME.

I remember someone on here this spring saying how ridiculous it was to demand the motogp formula be rechecked w/o even addressing the problem of "super circuits" to handle 300bhp monsters...

well w/o suzuka, one problem is solved, but problems at other tracks are soon to arise, they need to cut down those displacements and QUICK, deaths of such potential like Katoh shouldn't be the catalyst through which action is finally taken. They shouldn't even be a reminder, they just should never have happened.

[oddlycalm]

Originally posted by lone_groover
First thing they should work on is the 'NECKCAR-quality medical response.

Absolutely. The practice of having a couple corner workers run out and toss (as in physically throw) a downed rider onto a stretcher and pack him off to who knows where should have gone out with pudding bowl helmets.

td

[cartmanoz]

Anyone who watched this years event would know tha tmost of the riders were complaingin about the safety of the Suzuka circuit BEFORE the tragic events surrounding Daijiro Kato.:(

Valentino Rossi was one of the most outspoken, and highlighted several areas where the track was particularly unsafe. Two were of prime concern:

- the track leading from the Hairpin to the Spoon Curve, where teh barrier is mere feet from the edge of the track
- the track up from Spoon to the front straight, including the 130R turn, which has always been an unsafe corner for motorcycles, and into the chicane, where again the track is very close to the circuit - and where Kato lost his life

Anyone blaming the marshals for Kato's death are wrong. Kato was dead as soon as he hit, his chances of survival were always minimal at best. Plus, if you want someone to blame, blame the organisers who didn't throw the red flag. If you saw footage of Kato lying on the circuit, then any fool would have realised that he was seriously injured and the flag should have been thrown immediately.

With the ever escalating speed of the MotoGP machines, many circuits are quickly becoming out-dated, and thus be deemed 'unsafe'. With the Ducati reaching speeds of 330kph+, hell, just falling off could kill you. But I would want to hit a barrier at that speed...