The FIM, IRTA and Dorna have jointly announced the cancellation of the Qatar MotoGP race due to travel restrictions from Italy but Moto2 and Moto3 will continue.
With the race only a week away, Dorna together with FIM and IRTA took a big step to cancel the premier class MotoGP race in Qatar at Losail International Circuit due to the travel restrictions put in by several countries, including the host nation.
For Qatar, they were to put Italians as well as Japanese people under 14-day quarantine, while some flights were cancelled too, which hampered MotoGP largely with a large contingent from the two countries.
While MotoGP is forced out, Moto2 and Moto3, fortunately, continues as the two championship’s personnel were already in Qatar for the three-day test. The new schedule will be presented soon, while more information on other races too.
Dorna had earlier said that both Qatar and Thailand will continue but the recent changes has forced the cancellation of the former, while the latter will also now be in a limbo as the coronavirus outbreak spreads around the globe.
Full statement from MotoGP:
“FIM, IRTA and Dorna regret to announce the cancellation of all MotoG class sessions at the Grand Prix of Qatar, including the race. The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has resulted in Qatar travel restrictions being brought into force that affect passengers from Italy, amongst other countries.
“As of today, all passengers arriving at Doha on direct flights from Italy, or having been in Italy in the past 2 weeks, will be taken straight to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. Italy clearly plays a vital role in the Championship and in the MotoGP class – both on track and off – and therefore the decision has been taken to cancel premier class competition.
“As the teams and riders of the Moto2 and Moto3 classes were already in Qatar for the three-day official test at Losail International Circuit earlier this week, the races of both categories will be possible. The lightweight and intermediate classes will therefore compete in their season opener from the 6th to 8th March.
“The same will apply to the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, which will have two races during the Qatar Grand Prix as originally planned. Stay tuned for a revised schedule.”