Some 2020 MotoGP racing series can be held without spectators on the circuit. That option can be taken if the corona virus outbreak continues to spread and disrupt the implementation of the racing series throughout the MotoGP 2020 season.
So far, the first two series in the MotoGP 2020 schedule are canceled. Qatar MotoGP will take place without competing for the highest class. Qatar MotoGP Series is scheduled to take place on March 8. Meanwhile, the Thai MotoGP was shifted to October 4 from what was supposed to be March 22.
Quoted from Motorsport.com, Dorna Sports CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta said the option to hold a competition without an audience could be done. “Everything is possible,” Ezpeleta said when asked if running a race without an audience would be an option. “The most important thing for us is to take the best solution for everything,” he said.
According to Ezpeleta, Dorna has an obligation to execute the contract in accordance with the agreement with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile which is the World Motor Racing Federation and the International Road Racing Team Association (IRTA). Dorna is known to have a contract clause to be able to hold a minimum of 13 series.
The total number of MotoGP 2020 series are 20 series. Now, 19 series are left after the cancellation of the highest class race in Qatar. Implementation of the Italian MotoGP is still under consideration awaiting the development of the situation in the country.
Before there was a decision to cancel the highest class in the Qatar MotoGP series, Ezpeleta revealed that Dorna had tried to arrange charter flights from France for the riders and crew of the MotoGP teams from Italy. The effort was almost realized before the latest restriction policy issued by the Government of Qatar. “At the moment I will not say optimistic or not, but the only thing I can promise is that we are working hard to find any solution so that the remaining race series can continue,” Ezpeleta said.
Following is the revised MotoGP 2020 schedule due to the corona virus effect:
1. March 8 in Qatar (only competing for Moto2 and Moto3 classes).
2. April 5 in the United States.
3. April 19 in Argentina.
4. May 3 in Jerez, Spain.
5. May 17 in France
6. May 31 in Italy
7. June 7 in Catalunya, Spain
8. June 21 in Germany
9. June 28 in the Netherlands
10. July 12 in Finland
11. August 9 in Czech.
12. August 16 in Austria
13. August 30 in England
14. September 13 in San Marino
15. September 27 in Aragon, Spain
16. October 4 in Thailand
17. October 18 in Japan
18. October 25 in Australia
19. November 1 in Malaysia
20. November 15 in Valencia, Spain.
