Three MotoGP races cancelled as calendar is slimmed down

Assen will not host a Grand Prix for the first time in the history of the motorcycle championship, as three MotoGP races are cancelled for 2020

2018 MotoGP podium celebrations at Assen

Assen will be taking the champagne off ice this year, along with the Sachsenring and KymiRing

DPPI

Three MotoGP races have been cancelled as organisers look towards an August start to the season.

The German, Dutch and Finnish Grands Prix, due to take place in June and July, will now not take place at all in 2020.

It will be the first time that the TT Circuit Assen has not held a grand prix since the Motorcycle World Championship began in 1949.

Organisers are hoping that racing will resume in August, at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, as Mat Oxley reported yesterday.

It’s not yet clear how the rest of the season would then take shape,as uncertainty over coronavirus restrictions continue.

Related article

The German Grand Prix was scheduled for June 21, followed by Assen on June 28. The KymiRing was due to make its debut on the calendar this year, by hosting the Grand Prix of Finland on July 12.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of these three important Grands Prix on the MotoGP calendar,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, chief executive of MotoGP’s promoter, Dorna.

“The German GP is raced on a truly unique track with an incredible history, and the KymiRing is an exciting new venue set to welcome Grand Prix motorcycle racing back to Finland for the first time since 1982. And the iconic TT Circuit Assen had the unique honour of being the only venue to have held a round of the motorcycle racing Grand Prix World Championship every year, uninterrupted, since the Championship began in 1949.

“On behalf of Dorna I would like to thank all the fans for their understanding and patience as we wait for the situation to improve. We very much look forward to returning to the Sachsenring and the TT Circuit Assen in 2021, and eagerly await the Grand Prix debut of the new KymiRing next season.”

2020 MotoGP calendar — latest version

Race

Date

Status

Qatar 8 March Cancelled (Moto2 and Moto3 races go ahead)
Spain 3 May Postponed (date unknown)
France 17 May Postponed (date unknown)
Italy 31 May Postponed (date unknown)
Catalunya 7 June Postponed (date unknown)
Germany 21 June Cancelled
Netherlands 28 June Cancelled
Finland 12 July Cancelled
Czech Republic 9 August Likely to change
Austria 16 August No change
Great Britain 30 August No change
San Marino 13 September No change
Áragon 27 September Moved to accommodate Thailand
Thailand 4 October Rescheduled from March 22
Japan 18 October No change
Australia 25 October No change
Malaysia 1 November No change
Americas 15 November Rescheduled from April 5
Argentina 22 November Rescheduled from April 19
Comunitat Valenciana 29 November Moved to accommodate Americas and Argentina