RideFast June 2020

PADDOCK NEWS
Brought to you by
PLANNING
CONTINUES
FOR RESTART
OF WORLDSBK
SEASON
MOTOGP TO REMAIN
IN EUROPE UNTIL MID-
NOVEMBER AT LEAST
MotoGP won’t travel to Austrailia or
the UK for a round during the 2020
world championship, with Motegi
in Japan the latest round to be
cancelled due to COVID-19.
The Japanese grand prix was
scheduled to take place between 16-
18 October and has been a staple on
the calendar since 1999.
“It is with great sadness that we
announce the cancellation of the
Motul Grand Prix of Japan at the very
unique Motegi circuit, meaning we
will not have a Japanese Grand Prix
on the calendar for the first time
since 1986,” commented Carmelo
Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports.
“The MotoGP family is working very
hard to be able to re-start the racing
season and hold as many events
as possible, and in the safest way
possible. For this reason, the FIM
and Dorna, in consultation with IRTA
and MSMA, have decided that, until
mid-November, MotoGP will remain
in Europe to do as many European
MotoGP events as we are able to.
“Therefore, overseas events, if at
all possible, should be scheduled
after mid-November – which would
be too late in the year for the Motul
Grand Prix of Japan to be held. For
this reason it has been decided, in
consultation with Mobilityland, that
the Motul Grand Prix of Japan cannot
be held in 2020.
“I very much thank Mobilityland
for the support given to MotoGP.
On behalf of Dorna, I would also
like to thank all the fans for their
understanding and patience as we
wait for the situation to improve. We
very much look forward to returning
to Motegi next year.”
Reports suggest that if flyaways
do in fact go ahead following mid-
November, both Malaysia and
Thailand appear to be the most
likely rounds that will go ahead. The
only other potential – but unlikely
– options remain the United States
and Argentina.
The 2020 Motul Superbike
World Championship is working
hard on resuming racing
action for the remainder of the
season, amidst the ongoing
coronavirus pandemic.
The championship started in
style at Phillip Island and Dorna
WSBK Organization has issued
an update on plans to get
racing back underway.
Jerez is scheduled to mark
the restart of the season on
31 July-2 August, before going
to Portimao in Portugal a
week later on 7-9 August. The
season should then follow
the provisional schedule at
MotorLand Aragon on 28-30
August 2020.
The health of everybody is
at the forefront of decision
making and these rounds
within the Iberian Peninsula
are planned to be held behind
closed doors, in-line with
social distancing measures
and medical guidelines set by
the Spanish and Portuguese
governments.
Furthermore, updates have
been made to the British and
Dutch rounds, which have
been postponed. Further
updates for the end-season
calendar will be communicated
soon in order to further clarify
the calendar situation.
34 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE JUNE 2020