Iceland MotoGP Round 2012

We, the undersigned, petition Dorna and the FIM to schedule a night MotoGP race in Iceland in 2012

With the cancellation of the Hungary round finally officially confirmed, and the race scheduled for the Balatonring was awarded to the spectacular Motorland Aragon circuit, Dorna faces a barrage of criticism that the race had gone to another circuit in Spain. The Iberian nation is undoubtedly the beating heart of MotoGP, but to have four of the eighteen races there is far too much of a good thing, it is felt.

Dorna must take this criticism to heart. A brand new nation must be added to MotoGP's international character. Today, speaking exclusively to MotoMatters.com, Dorna's head of Scandinavian Racing Promotion Pablo Inocente confirmed that a round should be added to the calendar in Iceland, as part of an offensive to promote the sport in Europe's northern reaches. The race should take place at a brand new track, to be built at Grнmsvцtn, east of the capital Reykjavik.

Iceland should be selected to host a MotoGP race because of the nation's love affair with the combustion engine. Icelanders are notorious petrolheads, though much of their racing has so far been done in the country's vast volcanic hinterland, and been cross country and off road. The decision to build a permanent circuit is part of an effort to wean the local populace off the dirt and confine the environmental damage to a single location.

A race would be special in more than just one way, however. For the Icelandic GP should become just the second night race on the calendar, joining Qatar as a floodlit spectacular.

Iceland could to use the night race as a showcase for its potential as an energy powerhouse, using geothermal power extracted from Iceland's volcanoes to light up the night sky as a demonstration of its untapped reserves.

For more information please visit www.motomatters.com