V8 Supercars and the MotoGP Championship are at a stalemate with neither side willing to budge from a clashing date in October next year.
The recent release of the 2016 MotoGP provisional calendar several days after V8 Supercars announced its schedule sees both locking horns on the same weekend.
The Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island shifted from its traditional mid-October with it now occupying the same weekend as the Castrol Gold Coast 600 from October 21-23.
Central to the impasse is how broadcaster Network Ten intends to handle the clash as it holds the free-to-air rights for both events.
Unless there are changes to the start time, the second 300km leg of the V8 Supercars race will see it collide with the bike grand prix.
V8 Supercars is trying to work through the clash but have categorically stated the championship is unable to move as it comes at a delicate time of the year with Bathurst and the New Zealand round two weeks either side of the Gold Coast date.
A resolution may rest with either the time of the V8 race shifted earlier than its normal 2pm start or the broadcaster splitting its coverage between Ten and its HD channel, ONE.
When approached by Speedcafe.com, Network Ten said it was across the scheduling issue but how the problem is tackled may not be known until early next year when its 2016 broadcast schedule is released.
“We are currently looking at the scheduling issue and will announce our full motorsport broadcast schedule in early 2016,” a Network Ten spokesperson told Speedcafe.com.
V8 Supercars chief executive James Warburton said the unforeseen clash had been unfortunate.
“Any clash of date is unfortunate but the Gold Coast 600 has traditionally been held on this weekend in October,” Warburton said.
“It is the biggest event of the year in Queensland with a bumper 185,000 fans attending last year.
“We released our 2016 calendar last week. It’s been well received by the fans, teams and drivers and we are committed to racing on the Gold Coast on that date next year.”