MotoGP confirms British and Australian rounds cancelled

The British and Australian rounds of the MotoGP World Championship have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As the MotoGP season gets set to kick-off in just under one months time, there have been two more casualties from this year’s calendar, with both Silverstone and Phillip Island being dropped from the 2020 schedule. 

In a statement published on Silverstone’s social media, the British track’s managing director, Stuart Pringle, said, “Despite months of work behind-the-scenes to try and make this key event happen, logistical restrictions under the current situation, combined with a shortened and rearranged MotoGP calendar has caused the cancellation of the event”. 

This will make 2020 the second year in the last three that has seen a British MotoGP race cancelled, after 2018’s cancellation due to track conditions caused by heavy rain. The news is a shame, since after the 2018 disaster, Silverstone and the British Grand Prix rebounded strongly in 2019, and the weekend was capped off by that stunning pass by Alex Rins on Marc Marquez at the very death of the premier class race. 

Pringle went on in the statement to say that, “Our obligation to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in preparing and delivering the event, our volunteer marshals and Race Makers, and of course, you, the amazing fans, means that this is the best, safest and only decision we could make.”

Pringle also mentioned that “customers who purchased a ticket [for the 2020 British Motorcycle Grand Prix] will be given the option of either transferring their booking directly to 2021 or taking a full refund.” 

Finally, Pringle said that “next year, we (Silverstone) intend to give away thousands of tickets for the 2021 event to NHS and other key workers who have literally been putting their lives on the line for us all, during these challenging times.”

The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix also shared a statement on its website, announcing the events cancellation for 2020. The statement read, “The Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) in conjunction with Dorna Sports today announced the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2020 is cancelled due to restrictions relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Like Silverstone, the AGPC announced that “full refunds will be provided to all ticket holders”.

The chairman of the AGPC, Paul Little AO, said, “We’re very disappointed that MotoGP fans throughout Victoria, Australia and internationally won’t get the chance to make the pilgrimage to see the world’s best riders compete on one of the best circuits anywhere in the world, but the right decision has been made.”

Dorna Sports CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, also shared his disappointment, saying, “We’re saddened to have to announce the cancellation of this iconic event after finding no way through the logistical and operational issues resulting from the pandemic and rearranged calendar.”

Additionally, 5-times 500cc World Champion, Mick Doohan, offered his thoughts: “Phillip Island is renowned for hosting the MotoGP, along with some of the best racing on the calendar every year, but unfortunately due to COVID-19, this year will be the first year since 1997 it hasn’t been held. The race will return in 2021 and provide an opportunity to make it one of the biggest and best-attended MotoGP events we’ve seen, plus watch Miller take the win!”

Speaking of Miller, the newly-announced 2021 factory Ducati rider said, “It’s a massive shame not to be able to race at home this year, but I completely understand that in these uncertain and difficult times tough decisions have to be made.”

Losing two of the best circuits on the MotoGP calendar is certainly a huge shame for the championship, especially after already losing Assen and Mugello. The 2020 championship was going to be strange enough, and without many of the classic circuits and cornerstones of the calendar missing, now including Silverstone and Phillip Island, it will only be stranger. However, as mentioned by the many people who have made statements on this unfortunate news, these decisions were the correct ones given the current global health situation.