The announcement of Tome Alfonso Ezpeleta – nephew of Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and cousin of MotoGP sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta – as MotoGP’s new safety officer prompted suspicions of nepotism.
But Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro, traditionally outspoken and not shy to criticise the championship when he feels it is warranted, has urged doubters to give Alfonso Ezpeleta a chance and argued that he is well-qualified for the role.
Franco Uncini, the 1982 500cc world champion, is retiring from the safety officer role at the age of 67.
He has been working alongside fellow Italian past world champion Loris Capirossi to both certify circuits ahead of events and to advise race control on safety conditions throughout weekends.
Alfonso Ezpeleta joins his cousins Carlos and Ana (head of the Road to MotoGP talent development program) in taking on a senior role in governing the sport.
He is the former boss of a number of the tracks visited by MotoGP, first leading Qatar’s Losail International Circuit as its general manager for five years before supervising the Motorland Aragon track’s construction, staying on at that track for nine years and returning briefly in 2022 to consult on this year’s race after the previous incumbent was dismissed only months before the Aragon Grand Prix.
Most recently, his Racing Loop motorsport consultancy business has been developing Kazakhstan’s Sokol Racetrack, a venue set to make a somewhat surprising appearance on the MotoGP calendar for the first time in 2023.
But, despite Alfonso Ezpeleta’s appointment being met with accusations of nepotism within top-level motorcycle racing (a particularly serious charge given that this is not a Dorna role but a position appointed by governing body the FIM), Espargaro was among a number of riders arguing that he is both well-qualified and will bring a much-needed different perspective to the position.
“I know Tome, he lives in Andorra and I’ve known him a long time,” Espargaro explained.
“He works in safety, in discovering new tracks, and he has some experience in this.
“Franco is like me, old, and he decided to stop, so the only thing I can say is that we need to wait and give opportunities to Tome.
“Putting a rider there is not always better. We already have Loris there, who is very intelligent, but maybe some other people with other experience in safety, who have travelled more around the world, can give us a different point of view.
“I know that for you guys [the media], the surname sounds not professional [like nepotism], but let’s give him some time.
“I know him and I like him, and what he’s done in his job in the past is not that bad.
“One of the circuits that has changed the most in terms of safety was Aragon. It improved quite a lot while he was working there.”
That view was backed up by FIM President Jorge Viergas. In announcing that Alfonso would take on the role for next year, he acknowledged the potential for allegations of nepotism while also insisting that his new hire is simply the best person for the role.
“We tried very hard to find someone who is able to perform this duty, this huge responsibility, and if someone knows of one person who can perform better than Tome, then they need to let me know,” said Viergas.
“We looked and looked. We all know he is the nephew of Carmelo, but this has nothing to do with the story.
“I’m already answering some questions about this, but we gave deep thought to who could perform this task, and Tome has been working for a long time designing circuits, looking at the safety of circuits.
“He is harming his life and his financials, because he is leaving this company to work only for the FIM, and he is going to do his best to make all the circuits as safe as possible.”
