DORNA SPORTS:

MotoGP will return to the Spanish venue of Valencia until at least 2016, thanks to an extension of the current agreement between the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo and World Championship commercial rights-holders Dorna Sports.

At an event held on Wednesday morning in the city centre of Valencia at the Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana the new agreement was signed by Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Generalitat Valenciana Trini Miró.

Dignitaries such as Francisco Camps (President of the Generalitat Valenciana), Gerardo Camps (Vice-President of the Generalitat Valenciana) and four-time World Champion and current Grand Prix team owner Jorge Martínez ‘Aspar’ were also in attendance.

Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit hosts this weekend’s season-concluding Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana and the venue now has a guaranteed place on the FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar for at least the next seven years.

Speaking at Wednesday’s signing event at the Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana, Mr. Ezpeleta stated, “It is a pleasure for Dorna to extend the agreement that we have had with Valencia since 1999 for them to host MotoGP races. Valencia is already a ‘classic’ for the World Championship, and on several occasions it has been awarded as the best GP of the season. It is therefore an honour to continue our cooperation with the circuit and to count on Valencia as the last GP of the season for the forthcoming years, as well as the venue for the annual FIM Awards gala ceremony.”

President Francisco Camps, declared, “Firstly I would like to thank Mr. Ezpeleta and Mr. Martínez for helping Valencia to host one of the greatest sporting events in the world. Holding MotoGP races in the Comunitat Valenciana helps us to generate finances and boosts employment, also allowing us to promote our image around the world. This contract renewal and a Valencian team presence next year in all three GP categories, with Aspar, will help the Comunitat Valenciana to prosper further and to cement our event as a key date in MotoGP.”