MotoGP cancelled as Coronavirus hits the world of motorsport
Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus, known officially as COVID-19, the FIM and Dorna have announced that MotoGP’s premier class will not compete in the opening round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship while round two, due to be held in Thailand, has been postponed until the end of the season.
Coronavirus has affected a number of sports across the world with the Six Nations Rugby facing cancellations and the Italian Football leagues suffering from ‘closed-door’ matches and further cancellations.
In the motorsport world, the FIA announced the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix and the Sanya EPrix in China, while there are also rumours around the season opener in Australia, with Italian teams reporting they could face severe travel disruption as they head to Albert Park.
The famous Suzuka circuit in Japan has postponed its season opener next month, which could have an effect on the Suzuka 8-hour towards the end of the FIM Endurance World Championship season, while organisers of June’s Isle of Man TT races say that they are monitoring the situation.
But as the virus continues to spread the question turns to how badly it could affect the 2020 motorcycle racing season?
MotoGP
The decision to cancel the opening round of MotoGP came after the Qatari government closed their borders to Italian (among others) nationals following their sudden increase on the spread of the new virus.
With a large proportion of the MotoGP paddock being Italian, the decision has been made to cancel the opening premier class round of the season.
However, despite the premier class not racing under the floodlights, the Moto3 and Moto2 classes will continue to go ahead as normal as they have recently finished their three-day test at the Losail International Circuit, meaning that all personnel and equipment are already in the country. The junior classes will be joined by the Asia Talent Cup riders, who will have their season opener as normal in Qatar.
Following the premier class test, teams urged their personnel to remain in Qatar as they were expecting to face travel disruption for the opening round of the season. It is not known how many team personnel are on the ground in Qatar – but they still need to recover the equipment left following the three-day test in Qatar just over two weeks ago.
With the first round cancelled, it was soon announced that the second round of the series would also be postponed, for all three classes. The Thai Grand Prix, originally scheduled for March 20th – 22nd, has now been ‘postponed indefinitely’ following a statement from Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
That means the opening round of the season could be held in America, however, this is also in doubt as the US government aims to tighten their borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They are currently advising Italian nationals do not travel to the USA unless it is essential. Should they follow in the footsteps of Qatar and others, this could place a question mark on the event at the Circuit of the Americas at the start of April.
At this moment in time, Coronavirus has taken the lives two people in the US and has infected another person in New York.
Should the Grand Prix of the Americas be affected, the Argentine round currently looks set to take place with no confirmed cases of the virus in Argentina.
However, with over seven weeks until the fourth round of the championship in South America, it’s highly likely the virus will make its way to Argentina if it continues to spread at the current rate.
This means the opening round of the season could take place in Jerez, making it a first European season opener since 2006, when Jerez kicked off that iconic season.
World Superbikes
The opening round of the World Superbike championship was a huge success in Australia with three different winners over the course of the three-race weekend.
However, with the next round in Qatar in just under two weeks’ time, could the Qatar World Superbike be affected as well?
With two weeks until the lights are set to go out in Qatar for the second round of the season, and the minimum 14-day quarantine enforced by the Qatari government, the second round of the championship looks in doubt.
Teams and riders will most likely return to their hometowns to see friends and families between the Australian round and the Qatar round; therefore, they could face a struggle to get into the country for the second round of the season.
But that could force a second cancellation to Qatar’s motorcycling events with less than 14 days until the World Superbike event.
The World Superbike Championship is set to return to Europe at the end of March visiting the Jerez circuit.
The situation is now a waiting game, as we wait to see how and where the virus spreads in the coming weeks and how individual countries react to this. The story continues to develop, but all indications at present are that there’s more disruption on the way until the virus is contained.
