ＭｏｔｏＧＰトップ選手　洪水被害バレンシアＧＰの開催地変更を希望

【セパン（マレーシア）ＡＦＰ＝時事】ロードレース世界選手権のＭｏｔｏＧＰクラスに参戦するライダーたちは３１日、スペインで多くの死者を出している大洪水の発生を理由に、２週間後に予定されているシーズン最終戦バレンシアＧＰの会場を移すよう要請した。（写真は、プラマック・レーシングのホルヘ・マルティン）
　この洪水では少なくとも９５人が死亡し、バレンシアでは軍隊、警察、消防が生存者と犠牲者の発見を急いでいる。
　世界タイトルの行方が１１月１６日から１７日に行われるバレンシアＧＰまで持ち越される可能性がある中、スペイン出身で総合首位に立つプラマック・レーシングのホルヘ・マルティンは、今週末のマレーシアＧＰを前に現地セパンで、「最終的には他の場所でレースをするのが最善の解決策だと思う」とし、競技責任者に対して可能な限り早く会場変更の決定を下すよう求めた。
　昨季覇者で現在１７ポイント差で総合２位につけるドゥカティ・レノボ・チームのフランチェスコ・バニャイアも、「現状からすれば正しくない。そこでレースをするのは間違っているかもしれない。私ならそこでレースをしたくない」と訴えた。
　バレンシアのサーキット自体は損傷を受けていないが、多くのファンを収容するために必要なインフラの一部には疑問が残っている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/11/01-17:09）

Leading MotoGP riders called Thursday for the season finale in a fortnight to be moved out of Valencia because of deadly once-in-a-generation flooding in Spain.
At least 95 people have been killed and troops, police and firefighters are racing to find survivors and victims in the Valencia region of the country.
The MotoGP world title could go down to the final race weekend of the campaign, scheduled for the Circuit Ricardo Tormo just outside Valencia on November 16-17.
Spain's Jorge Martin, who tops the championship ahead of Italy's title-holder Francesco Bagnaia, said: At the end of the day, I think the best solution will be to race elsewhere.
Speaking in Sepang ahead of this weekend's Malaysia GP, the 26-year-old called on the sport's bosses to make a decision on a possible change of venue as soon as possible.
The best thing would be to know right now so you approach the weekend in a different way, said the Pramac Ducati rider.
Title rival Bagnaia, who is still in the fight just 17 points back, said the Spanish people are living their worst dream.
The most difficult thing for me is the ethical side because racing there is like a party, like a moment to enjoy.
Knowing the situation as it is, it's not correct... this could be wrong to race there. If it was my choice, I'd prefer not to race there.
We have many more (other) options, said the Ducati rider.
The Valencia track itself has not been damaged but there are question marks about some of the other infrastructure needed to host thousands of fans.
Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez said the priority must be the recovery effort and not racing.
Up to a year's rain fell in a few hours on the eastern city of Valencia and the surrounding region on Tuesday, sending torrents of water and mud through towns and cities.
As a Spaniard, it's super-difficult to see these kinds of images, said Marquez.
Theorically, we have a GP there, but now I think all the facilities of the government, of Spain, need to go to the people who lost their houses.
Spain on Thursday started three days of mourning.