FIM President Jorge Viegas Interviewed at Phillip Island
Trev sat down with FIM President Jorge Viegas at Phillip Island on the weekend to discuss the subject that had been frothing across everyone’s lips since we broke the story that the seaside Victorian venue and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation had lost the rights to host the Australian round of the MotoGP World Championship to South Australia.
Viegas On Phillip Island
Trev: The big news with MotoGP, leaving Phillip Island and heading to South Australia, what’s your reflection on the change?
Jorge Viegas: “I mean, it’s obvious that this would happen one day or the other, when the discussion has to do with the promotion of the race and the conditions of Phillip Island. This was asked 10 years ago, that they should improve the facilities here, and every year they said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, we will do it’.
“But it never happened, so now it’s gone, because Adelaide made a good proposal… It’s not Dorna anymore, it’s an entertainment group, the promoter, they are intending to do a good show there, and we know that MotoGP intends to grow, with the acquisition from Liberty, they are really interested in making MotoGP bigger. We need to conquer new public, new spectators.
“As to Phillip Island, everybody loves this track. I love to come here, but if you want to invite people, if you want to make something different, there are no hotels, there’s nothing. It’s really difficult.
“So I think this is, let’s say, commercial based decision, but we can understand it. Everybody is sorry to lose Phillip Island in the calendar, obviously, but the last talk between Ezpeleta with Mr Fox, it was you do the facilities and then we’ll talk about coming back. It’s not a goodbye forever.”
Trev: The World Superbike contract runs through to 2027 for Phillip Island. Do you think Phillip Island has much chance of holding onto World Superbike?
Viegas: “I cannot tell you the full story, because it’s still confidential, but I would like Superbike to remain here, but maybe not.”
What could be next for Phillip Island?
Trev: I believe you might have spoken to an Australian GP Corporation representative here, along with Motorcycling Australia’s Peter Doyle. Are you putting your heads together to see if there’s something you can bring to Phillip Island?
Viegas: “We intend to bring in the 2028 FIM Intercontinental Games. We are really, really committed to bringing the Intercontinental Games here, to Phillip Island, including Motocross.
“I would like very much to do this. We have a good Motocross track not far from here (Wonthaggi), but I’d like to do it inside Phillip Island circuit if we can, so that the pilots are all together, road and off-road in the same paddock. This would be great. And this is my hope.
“I am also investigating the possibility of bringing the FIM Awards Gala to Victoria at some time in the not too distant future, perhaps even in conjunction with the FIM Intercontinental Games.
Viegas would also like to bring the awards ceremony to Victoria
“The World Endurance Championship are looking for new venues, so why not bring the endurance race here? It would be great, eight hours. Why not?”
The FIM would like to see it happen
Trev: So this is going to be the litmus test in Adelaide, and the first sort of modern street circuit for MotoGP?
Viegas: “I have not been there, I am going to speak next Friday to our safety officer, Tome (Alfonso Ezpeleta), as he is the guy who has to homologate. All the homologation of the tracks is by FIM, the facilities the promoter needs, and the conditions of the track.
“We are not going to homologate the track if it’s not absolutely safe, that’s for sure. I was told it’s built in the centre of Adelaide, in the park, rather than a really old school street circuit. So if it has all the conditions of safety, I am happy with it.”
