The coronavirus outbreak, now declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, is causing havoc for many major motorcycling events around the world.
In news just out – the opening round of the Australian MX Nationals at Horsham and the FIM Oceania Junior MX Tri-Nations Cup, originally set for April 4-5, have been postponed until later in the year. This is because it is not possible for international riders to travel to the event.
Also among the latest news is that the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have postponed the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, in Austin, Texas, which had been set to take place from April 3-5, 2020.
The event has been rescheduled for later in the season and now set to take place from November 13-15.
The Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana will therefore be held from November 20-22.
All of which means Argentina, originally scheduled as round four, may become the 2020 MotoGP season-opener, on April 17-19.
In the United States, the AMA Indianapolis Supercross, set for March 21, has also now been cancelled, as has the AMA Seattle Supercross scheduled for March 28.
And, in the motocross world, the MXGP of Patagonia – Argentina, originally scheduled for March 21-22, has also been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and it has now been tagged onto the end of the season and will be raced on November 21-22.
How this will affect what is traditionally the last major motocross event of the season, the Motocross of Nations, still scheduled at this stage for Ernee, in France, on the weekend of September 26-27, is anybody’s guess.
And, in the United States, the upcoming AMA Seattle Supercross scheduled for March 28, at CenturyLink Field, has been cancelled.
Meanwhile, whatever is the eventual the location of the first round of MotoGP, the lock-down on movement in Italy means some riders and team members will face added travel difficulties in reaching the event.
Dorna (the commercial rights holder for MotoGP) CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta said: “Contractually with the FIM [we must do] 13 races, but our aim is to do all 19 remaining races … Maybe we will race in hot countries at Christmas.
“I will not say I am optimistic, but the only thing I promise to you is that we will work hard for any solution to make happen all the 19 remaining races.”
While MotoGP is reluctant to follow F1 in banning spectators from its forthcoming Bahrain GP, all options are being considered …
Photo courtesy MotoGP
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