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With the repeated changes the MotoGP 2020 calendar, now we have a looming danger of the entire season being called off. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna has warned that this season of MotoGP may be axed unless a COVID-19 vaccine is discovered.
With the world reeling under the COVID-19 pandemic, and the bans on travels and large gatherings MotoGP simply does not feasible. And as Mr Ezpeleta has stated unless the bans are eased, which may only happen post the discovery of a vaccine, races cannot happen. And with most scientists indicating a next-year availability (a very long shot) of a vaccine, the cancellation of this year's MotoGP is more or less imminent.
In the beginning, Dorna had repeatedly expressed confidence in their ability to reschedule events and get the season underway, the change in the tone is apparent now since the disease is spreading like a wildfire and the whole world is trying to fend off this threat.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO, Dorna said, "I think that until we have vaccines to stop the spread of the coronavirus, it will be very difficult or impossible to organise Grand Prix and other major events. [Without a vaccine] even if life should normalise a bit again, the travel bans will remain in place in all countries. So it will not be possible for a large number of people to watch a football match or attend a MotoGP event.
I am not very confident that we will be able to run the 2020 GP season. Even if we continue to work hard on it. We consider all possible solutions. It is important that the safety and health of everyone involved are guaranteed. If someone gets infected at one of our events, we will be blamed forever. We can also survive if we have to completely cancel the 2020 season. If we have to accept this 'worst case' scenario, we will prepare for the 2021 season in a timely and conscientious manner.”
But amidst all this, there is also a ray of hope in the sense that Mr Ezpeleta, in addition to the above, also stated that the season can start right away if allowed to do so.
"Frankly, if we get the chance to restart the world championship, we will do it. It doesn't matter how many races. We have more than five months until September. If we could start in September, we could still handle more than four or five Grand Prix. We could then turn the calendar upside down: Maybe run a few races in Europe and then travel to Asia if the travel bans are relaxed there by then. It depends on how the situation develops worldwide. As soon as we see a green light, we can react. We will organise every race that we can manage this season," said Mr Ezpeleta.
In our opinion, even a few races seem highly unlikely this year for the simple reason that even if the countries around the world are able to flatten the curve of new cases and try to get the death toll under control, the restrictions on public gatherings will remain the same. And even the latter seems unlikely as the continuation of total or partial lockdown seems likelier. And with all of that, something like a Grand Prix race being organized, seems even more fat fetched.
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With the world reeling under the COVID-19 pandemic, and the bans on travels and large gatherings MotoGP simply does not feasible. And as Mr Ezpeleta has stated unless the bans are eased, which may only happen post the discovery of a vaccine, races cannot happen. And with most scientists indicating a next-year availability (a very long shot) of a vaccine, the cancellation of this year's MotoGP is more or less imminent.
In the beginning, Dorna had repeatedly expressed confidence in their ability to reschedule events and get the season underway, the change in the tone is apparent now since the disease is spreading like a wildfire and the whole world is trying to fend off this threat.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO, Dorna said, "I think that until we have vaccines to stop the spread of the coronavirus, it will be very difficult or impossible to organise Grand Prix and other major events. [Without a vaccine] even if life should normalise a bit again, the travel bans will remain in place in all countries. So it will not be possible for a large number of people to watch a football match or attend a MotoGP event.
I am not very confident that we will be able to run the 2020 GP season. Even if we continue to work hard on it. We consider all possible solutions. It is important that the safety and health of everyone involved are guaranteed. If someone gets infected at one of our events, we will be blamed forever. We can also survive if we have to completely cancel the 2020 season. If we have to accept this 'worst case' scenario, we will prepare for the 2021 season in a timely and conscientious manner.”
But amidst all this, there is also a ray of hope in the sense that Mr Ezpeleta, in addition to the above, also stated that the season can start right away if allowed to do so.
"Frankly, if we get the chance to restart the world championship, we will do it. It doesn't matter how many races. We have more than five months until September. If we could start in September, we could still handle more than four or five Grand Prix. We could then turn the calendar upside down: Maybe run a few races in Europe and then travel to Asia if the travel bans are relaxed there by then. It depends on how the situation develops worldwide. As soon as we see a green light, we can react. We will organise every race that we can manage this season," said Mr Ezpeleta.
In our opinion, even a few races seem highly unlikely this year for the simple reason that even if the countries around the world are able to flatten the curve of new cases and try to get the death toll under control, the restrictions on public gatherings will remain the same. And even the latter seems unlikely as the continuation of total or partial lockdown seems likelier. And with all of that, something like a Grand Prix race being organized, seems even more fat fetched.
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