Red Bull Rookies postpones Jerez test…

The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup pre-season tes൲t, set for Jerez from April 13-15, has been postponed.

After holding a MotoE test from March 10-12, the Jerez circuit announced it would be ceasing all activities for the next 15 days 'following recommendations from the health authorities in reference to c♏ontainment measures to stop the advance of coronaviru♎s'.

Jerez added that the lꦇength of closure may be 'revis𓂃ed or expanded if necessary', potentially putting the second MotoE test from April 8-10 and following Rookies test at risk.

Red Bull Rookies postpones Jerez test…

The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup pre-season test, set for Jerez from▨ April 13-15, has been postponed.

After holding a MotoE test from March 10-12, the Jerez circuit announced it would be ceasing all activities for the next 15 days 'follo𝔍wing recommendations from the health authorities in reference to containment measures to stop the advance of coronavirus'.

Jerez added that the length of closure mayꦏ be 'revised or expanded if necessary', potentially putting the second MotoE test from April 8-10 and following Rookies test at risk.

While there is no news yet on next month's electric-bike outing, the Rookies Cup organisers have now taken their own decision on t𓃲he grounds of travel advice:

'The recommendation of the European Commission and the World Health Organꦕisation to halt non-essential travel means that we now have🃏 no choice but to postpone the test,' said a Rookies Cup statement.

The cancellation of the test also casts further doubt on whe൩ther MotoGP's revised opening round will go ahead as planned, at the same Spanish circuit, just two weeks' later from May 1-3.

The next event at Le Mans (one of three rounds to boast over 100,000 race da꧟y fans in 2019) is planned from May 15-17. However, yesterday (Monday) it was announced that France's Mo🔯tocross GP, scheduled one week before the MotoGP, has been postponed until the end of June.

Mugello should then host the Italian MotoGP from May 29-31, but the country is presently the worst hit in Europe by the coronavirus and it would take a major breakthr🗹ough in controlling the disease for authorities to be confident enough to allow over 80,000 fans (2019) to mingle together on race day in🐼 just over two months time.

While a ban on large crowds could be 'solved' by holding races without fans being allowed at the circuit, with six of MওotoGP's eleven teams under lockdown in Italy and similar restrictions on movement now in place for France and Spain, the biggest obstacle could simply be getting essential staff ▨to an event...

 

Latest 2020 MotoGP Calendar (March 11)

Round

Date

Race

Circuit

1

8 March

Qatar (no MotoGP class)

Losail International Circuit

2

3 May

Jerez

Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto

3

17 May

France

Le Mans

4

31 May

Italy

Mugello

5

7 June

Catalunya

Circuit de Barcelona - Catalunya

6

21 June

Germany

Sachsenring

7

28 June

Netherlands

TT Circuit Assen

8

12 July

Finland*

KymiRing

9

9 August

Czech Republic

Brno

10

16 August

Austria

Red Bull Ring - Spielberg

11

30 August

Great Britain

Silverstone

12

13 September

San Marino

Misano

13

27 September

Aragon

MotorLand Aragon

14

4 October

Thailand

Chang International Circuit

15

18 October

Japan

Motegi

16

25 October

Australia

Phillip Island

17

1 November

Malaysia

Sepang

18

15 November

Americas

Circuit of the Americas

19

22 November

Argentina

Termas de Rio Hondo

20

29 November

Valencia

Comunitat Valenciana - Ricardo Tormo

*Subject to circuit homologation.

Read More