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After the announcement by Dorna, FIM, and IRTA stating that the CryptoDATA team was excluded from the MotoGP championship, the response of Ovidiu Toma, owner of the team, wasn’t long in coming. Not only does the manager dispute the decision made, but he also promises a legal war.
The statement:
“Our team, CryptoDATA RNF, is dealing a paradoxical situation, which seems taken out of a comedy movie, but with more serious effects. The proposal made to us by Dorna, organizer of the MotoGP, was worthy of a Hollywood script: to sell the team at a bargain price. We thought of asking them for an autograph, to remind us of such a “generous” offer.
The story begins in 2023, when Dorna promised an American team a spot in the championship, possibly the 12th that, surprise, was vacant. We can already imagine the discussions in Dorna’s offices: ‘Let's give the Americans a 12th place or CryptoDATA. What could go wrong?’ Well, a lot. After turning down KTM on the grounds that 12th place was ‘reserved for a factory team’, they realized they couldn’t offer our spot without our consent. They then came up with a buyout offer so low, I thought it was a joke. I politely declined, but the pressure didn’t stop.
Now, it seems Dorna wants us to stay out of the championship in 2024, with reasons that were so creative, a novel could be written. Despite a contract running until 2026, it seems like their slogan is ‘My championship, my unwritten rules ... the ones written in the contract don’t matter.”
We’re not just disappointed, we’re ready to fight back. After a month of intensive documentation and preparation for such a situation, we’ll go to court with a demand for substantial compensation for damage to our business and reputation, and for the limitation of participation in the championship.
We end this statement with a message for Dorna: Even in motorsports, where speed is of the essence, ethics and legality should not be overridden. We look forward to seeing you in court with the same passion we met on the track. BTW, stay tuned, we will soon publish the “orchestrated spiciness” behind the show that fans watch on TV.”
