The crisis in Argentina affects sport: there will be no MotoGP in Santiago del Estero due to the “circumstances” of the country

It’s official: Termas de Río Hondo will not host the MotoGP world championship this year. The most important category in world motorsport has confirmed the cancellation of the Argentine Grand Prix 2024which should have taken place from 5 to 7 April.

“Due to the current situation in Argentina, the event organizer has communicated that it is currently unable to guarantee the necessary services for the Grand Prix to take place in 2024 with MotoGP standards,” it explains in a statement press release signed by International Motorcycle FederationTHE International Association of Road Racing Teams AND Dorna Sportsevent license holder.

The short text also informs that a replacement for the event will not be sought, so this season’s calendar will go from 22 to 21 dates, and the door is left open for a possible return in 2025, the last year contemplated in the current career . to contract.

Versions that the event in the city of Santiago – the third of the season which began on the weekend of March 10 in Qatar – would not take place have been circulating since the beginning of the year. Tuesday, the Spanish newspaper Brand He had assured that the cancellation of the calendar was a fact. According to this and other media, The elimination of the Argentine date from the calendar responded to the complicated economic situation that the country is experiencing, especially since then Javier Milei assumed the presidency.

The president’s state spending adjustment policy has had a full impact in the organization of the Termas GP, since the event receives a significant sum of money from the national state, one of the three major responsible for the realization of the race together with the government of Santiago del Estero and the private promoter.

From CarburetionHowever, they stressed that the “obstacles” were not just economic, but had more to do “Customs, security and logistics problems with Intercargo, i.e. the entire airport logistics service for the transport of motorcycles and all equipment materials”due to the restructuring of public organisations, such as ministries, secretariats and other national agencies.

They also pointed out that tickets for the race had gone on sale in the early hours of Tuesday, which for many was a sign that the possibility of cancellation was very real, despite last December the authorities in Santiago del Estero having said that the date was insured.

Orly Newfoundlandexecutive director of the company OSDorganizer of the Argentine GP, had anticipated the announcement in an interview with the newspaper The liberalfrom Santiago del Estero.

“We, together with the Province, did everything possible to try to obtain a response from the national government and some sign of respect for the contract. No response was obtained. There was silence. After 60 days of recruitment They appointed Daniele Scioli secretary of Tourism, Environment and Sport and in the midst of this it becomes impossible to organize the event”, explained the former pilot.

“The circuit is ready and I think they are painting it now. We had sold everything and unfortunately we do not have coordination with customs, Intercargo, the gendarmerie nor the economic contribution that the nation must give. Given the lack of response, the worse The decision will be made, the truth is that it is incredible because there was no way to propose the project, the impact it has, the employment in the region… This race was an economic multiplier, of services, of employment, of projects, investments. Crazy”, he added.

Last year, for example, the event generated an economic impact of more than 5 billion pesos and brought together almost 200 thousand motoring enthusiasts, not only Argentinians but from all over the region, since it is the only GP of the category held in South America.

The Argentine Grand Prix has been held in Termas since the 2014 season, when he returned to the world championship calendar after 15 years of absence. Since then, the only years it has not been celebrated were 2020 and 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Before arriving in Santiago, it had been built in Buenos Aires between the 1960s and 1990s, although not continuously.

Will it return in 2025? “Everything will depend on what we are able to do in the province through the governor (Gerardo Zamora) and us as private individuals. The truth is that this generates damage that we don’t know if it will be irreparable or repairable,” Terranova said.

With the cancellation of the Argentinian event confirmed, the 2024 MotoGP world championship will now have 21 dates and after the first two races -in LosailQatar, e PortimaoPortugal, March 24 – will take a three-week break and return to the circuit on April 14 Austin for the American Grand Prix.