MotoGP 2020 season to kick off from July 19

After multiple delays and cancellations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, MotoGP will be back in action from July 19 as the FIM has released the revised calendar for the 2020 season. 

MotoGP fans, rejoice! The 2020 season looks all set to kick-off from July as the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has published the new provisional calendar for this year’s racing action. Thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting travel restrictions, MotoGP in 2020 will now be a 13-round event with all races set to be held within Europe. That said, overseas races in America, Argentina, Thailand and Malaysia are provisionally listed on the calendar, but these rounds will only be held if conditions permit.

As was proposed earlier, the season will kick start with a double-header at Jerez (Spain) with back-to-back races in a week. The first race is scheduled for July 19, while the second will be held on July 26. After Jerez, the following rounds will be held at Brno (Czech Republic) and Red Bull Ring (two races; Austria) in August; San Marino (two races) in September; one race each at Catalunya (Spain) and Le Mans (France), and Aragon (two races; Spain) in October. The final two races of the European rounds will be held at Valencia (Spain) in November.

The overseas races at COTA (America), Termas de Rio Hondo (Argentina), Buriram (Thailand) and Sepang (Malaysia) will be confirmed before July 31, after assessing the situation. In any case, the 2020 season will finish no later than December 13 and will have a maximum of 17 rounds (including the Qatar GP in March, where only Moto2 and Moto3 races were held), says Dorna. This would mean that one of four overseas rounds will be dropped from the calendar after July 31.

The European rounds will be held behind closed doors, meaning no spectators or media will be allowed at any of the circuits. Only the riders and essential staff from the teams and paddock will be present at the races in Europe.

That said, Dorna's official statement read, ‘All dates, events and the eventual attendance of spectators are subject to the evolution of the pandemic and the approval of the corresponding Governments and authorities.’ And this could mean that a limited number of spectators may be allowed in later rounds if the situation gets better.

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