MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb says Sunday's MotoGP British Grand Prix cancellation due to heavy weather was a “direct result” of Silverstone's new track surface.
The Northamptonshire circuit underwent a total resurfacing for the first time since 1996 earlier this year, though it has been almost universally panned by Formula 1 drivers and MotoGP riders alike, with the circuit's notorious bumps still prominent.
Very little racing has been done on the new surface in wet conditions, and a wet FP4 on Saturday revealed the circuit had poor drainage in certain places – most notably Stowe, where Avintia's Tito Rabat suffered a triple leg break after being hit by Franco Morbidelli's Marc VDS bike.
Emergency track works were carried out on Saturday night to improve the drainage, and the MotoGP race was brought forward from 13:00 local time to 11:30 in a bid to avoid the worst of the weather.
Numerous delays eventually led to all races being cancelled – the first time this has happened since the snowed-off 1980 Austrian Grand Prix – with Webb placing the blame solely on the new surface.
“We had a number of years of experience here in very wet conditions recently, with the old surface, and we've been able to run races,” he said.
“This year with the new surface is the first time we've encountered quite so much standing water in critical places of the track, so yes, it is a direct result of the track surface.
“I must say from the circuit point of view, the staff have done an unbelievable effort over the whole weekend, not just today, an enormous effort to try and make the track safe.
“Until the last minute they were still working but unfortunately we couldn't battle nature.”
Safety officer Franco Uncini, who spent the day completing laps in the safety car evaluating conditions, says Silverstone will begin an investigation – which will last around six weeks – but fully expects a new surface to be laid for next year's event.
“We have discussed yesterday about improvements of the track, of the asphalt because they have to renew,” he added:
“They are looking for an investigation that will take around six weeks to let us know which really was the problem of this kind of situation.
“We will wait this time to know exactly which was the reason of the problem. But for sure they will do a new asphalt.”
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