APRIL 24, 2007

MotoGP pulls out of Istanbul

MotoGP seems unlikely to return to Istanbul. The local Zaman newspaper is reporting that the Turkish Motorcycling Federation will be applying to the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) to annul its contract for the MotoGP event because it cannot afford to fund the races any longer. The report quoted Bekir Yunus Ucar, the head of the federation who said that the joint support of the Ä°stanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the Youth and Sports General Directorate was no longer enough to keep the event.

"There are about eight countries already lined up to take over from Turkey," he said.

This will come as bad news for the track's new operator, Bernie Ecclestone.