British and Australian MotoGP rounds cancelled
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have announed in a joint statement that the 2020 British and Australian Grands Prix would be called off due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
The British Grand Prix was set to take place from the 28th to the 30th of August at the classic Silverstone Circuit while the the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix was scheduled to be staged at the legendary Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from the 23rd to the 25th of October.
The 2020 MotoGP season is yet to get underway after the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix was cancelled in March when the novel coronavirus outbreak shut down world sport.
Following the cancellation and postponements of the first eight grands prix, Dorna Sports have been working on establishing a revised, all-new calendar, taking all the logistical challenges presented by the coronavirus crisis into consideration. Earlier this month, the series had proposed starting its season with two races on consecutive weekends in July at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain, with the government yet to approve the proposal.
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has expressed his regret for the cancellation of the two important events of the MotoGP calendar, but he insisted the logistical challenges have made it impossible for the two races to go ahead in 2020.
“We’re saddened to have to announce the cancellation of these iconic events after finding no way through the logistical and operational issues resulting from the pandemic and rearranged calendar.”
„Silverstone and Phillip Island are always two of the most thrilling race weekends of the season, with both tracks never failing in their promise to deliver some of the closest racing in our Championship,” he said.
Managing Director of the Silverstone circuit Stuart Pringle has confirmed that the circuit was adamant to return to the MotoGP calendar next year. „We must now look forward to 2021 when Silverstone will once again host the fastest and most historic MotoGP race on the calendar and work hard to make it a truly exceptional event for all to enjoy.”
Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman Paul Little thinks that the right decision has been made regarding the cancellation of the event at the beloved Phillip Island cirucit, stressing that the event will „be back better than ever in 2021.”
