MotoGP cancels German, Dutch and Finnish Grands Prix

MotoGP’s plans to start its 2020 season sometime in late July – venue not yet decided – look a lot more likely now that the German, Dutch and Finnish Grands Prix have been cancelled.

The news was released in a press release issued by Dorna Sport, MotoGP’s commercial rights holder and promoter.Those events were to be held on 21^st June, 28^th June and 12^th July, respectively.

The spread of the novel coronavirus and rise in cases of COVID-19 cases throughout Europe has led to the cancellation of eight of the originally scheduled 20 events of the 2020 FIM MotoGP World Championship.

The Sachsenring in Germany and The Netherland’s TT Circuit Assen, which has been on the MotoGP calendar for every year since the inaugural season in 1949, will not host any MotoGP or its supporting races this year. The same goes for the brand-new Kymiring circuit in Finland, which was going to host the first Finnish Grand Prix since 1982.

The cancellation of these MotoGP events means that the corresponding rounds of the MotoE World Cup, Northern Talent Cup and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup at the same venues have been cancelled too.

Dorna Sport’s chief Carmelo Ezpeleta had earlier discussed that this year’s MotoGP championship is likely to comprise of predominantly European events that will be held behind-closed-doors, without any spectators. Races outside of Europe will only be considered if the authorities of those venues deem it safe to allow international travel.