Bernie sued – No!
It was reported on Wednesday that Ecclestone, who bought the Istanbul venue earlier this year for up to $190m, 'closed' the circuit to motorcyclists after the deal for a MotoGP race was recently not renewed.
But Istanbul Park Organizasyon (IPO), which runs the circuit for Ecclestone and Formula One Administration, said it has "no knowledge" of any legal action and dismissed the media reports as "nonsense".
"It is complete nonsense," said the IPO spokesman, although he did not deny that there are no upcoming motorcycling events scheduled at the Istanbul track.
But he told F1's official website: "It's just a case of finding the right opportunity. If it works for everybody involved, it will happen."
08/14/07 Bernie Ecclestone, owner of the Istanbul Park Course where the Formula One races are held, is being sued by the Turkish Motorcycling Federation.
In a written statement the vice chairman of the Turkish Motorcycling Federation, Süleyman Memnun, said the course will be closed to motorcyclists until 2021 following the handover of the circuit's management to president and CEO of Formula One Management Ecclestone. "For this reason our association is taking legal action on the handover of the facilities — in order to prevent a public facility being closed to Turkish athletes." A new company headed by Ecclestone took over the running of the Istanbul Park circuit, a venue for the Turkish round of the FIA Formula One World Championship in April. The newly formed Istanbul Park Organization (IPO), a subsidiary of Formula One Administration Ltd., has taken a 15-year lease on the circuit and agreed to promote the Turkish Grand Prix, thereby securing the event for the foreseeable future.