Japan race cancelled over coronavirus as MotoGP looks to Europe

TOKYO, Japan — The Japanese MotoGP was cancelled over the coronavirus on Monday as organizers said they would concentrate on holding as many races as possible in Europe this year.

Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Jorge Martin of Spain (R) leads EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider Alex Marquez of Spain (C) and Dynavolt Intact GP rider Marcel Schrotter of Germany (L) during the Moto2 class final of the Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, Tochigi prefecture on October 20, 2019. Photo by Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP

The scrapping of the October 16-18 race in Motegi follows the axing of the Australian MotoGP, which was due to be held a week later.

“The situations in Japan and Europe are unpredictable,” said Kaoru Tanaka, president of Mobilityland, which owns the Twin Ring Motegi circuit.

“As a result of our discussions with Dorna, the managerial body of the series, we agreed that we have no choice but to cancel the Japanese GP in order to complete the season.”

The first 11 races of the MotoGP season have been either postponed or cancelled, and there have been discussions about how to preserve as much as possible of the European calendar.

At the moment, the sport hopes to resume with back-to-back races at Jerez, Spain.

The first, on July 19, would be the new season-opener, with Dorna suggesting slotting in the second race at the same circuit on July 26.

A round of the Superbike Championship was also proposed for Jerez on August 2.

The opening legs, if approved, are most likely to be held without spectators, and with restrictions on the number of people allowed in the paddock.

There have also been talks about holding the French MotoGP, which was scheduled for May, in October instead.

“The MotoGP family is working very hard to be able to restart the racing season and hold as many events as possible, and in the safest way possible,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports.

“(MotoGP organizers) have decided that, until mid-November, MotoGP will remain in Europe to do as many European MotoGP events as we are able to.

“Therefore, overseas events, if at all possible, should be scheduled after mid-November -– which would be too late in the year for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan to be held.”