"New racetrack is to be built in Keszthely, where MotoGP races will be organized as early as next year, and races will surely be held every year until 2013. So Gábor Talmácsi can prove his talent on domestic land next year, along with stars such as Valentino Rossi or Casey Stoner.An announcement of the construction of the Balatonring circuit in Hungary - and its possible inclusion as one of next year's tracks - was made at a special press conference on Wednesday morning. The announcment was made by Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Hungarian Minister for National Development and Economy Bajnai Gordon, Dr. Róna Iván CEO of Magyar Turizmus Zrt and Sedesa Construction President Vicente Cotino, alongside Hungary's 125cc World Champion Gábor Talmácsi and his team manager Jorge Martinez Aspar (who is also President of Worldwide Circuit Management).
Negotiations took for several months; the racetrack will be established on the south-western part of Balaton area, in Sávoly, Somogy county. Due to proximity of motorway M7 and the international airport at Sármellék, the venue can be reached quickly and conveniently by motor sport fans from the neighbouring countries and from the Mediterranean area.
Magyar Turizmus Zrt. has formed a subsidiary under 100% ownership for organizing any possible MotoGP races in the new Hungarian circuit. The racetrack itself will be operated by a company, named Balatonring Zrt, 30% of which is controlled by Magyar Turizmus Zrt and the remaining 70% by Worldwide Circuit Management S.L. (WCM) of Spain. WCM has been succesfully organizing MotoGP races and operating similar ractracks worldwide for years. Hun-Ring, a subsidiary of Magyar Turizmus Zrt, received the license rights for organizing MotoGP races in Hungary in the following five years. Track will be built by Sedesa, then it will hand it over to Balatonring Zrt for operation in order to reach maximum utilization.
“Construction will kick off in September and will be completed within the following one year with an investment of HUF 40 billion," Gordon Bajnai told index.hu. He declined to disclose the amount Hungary would spend on the investment, as it will be published later.
First race will be held in September 2009, and from the following year, the grand prix will take place in springtime, around April-May. Contract is for five years, so races will surely be held until 2013.
Gábor Talmácsi will race on homeland next year, in the 250cc category. Of course, the fleet of the other two categories -125 and Moto GP - will also come to Hungary with all the stars, such as Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and others. It was in 1992 when the world championship was organized in Hungary - then and two years earlier, it was held on Hungaroring.
Portfolio.hu viewpoint
We believe that the move is a real hit regarding country image, as number of visitors at MotoGP races has continuously increased over the last years - 100,000 to 150,000 attends each race, which are broadcasted in more than 200 countries. The base of motor sport fans grows dynamically all over the world, especially in our region.
Another positive factor is that the race will be organized close to Lake Balaton, as it would increase attractiveness of the lake as holiday destination. According to current plans, the race will be held in April-May from 2010, which means that vacancy rate at commercial accommodation would decrease in out-season.
Timing, however, can be risky - construction is to start this September and first race is envisioned in September 2009. Of course, creating a 5-kilometer-long “bitumen stripe" is not mission impossible, but contractors will have a busy time for the next one year, that's for sure."
Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal
24.07.2008