Japan race cancelled over coronavirus as MotoGP looks to Europe

The Japanese race is a long-standing fixture on the MotoGP circuit  - AFP 

TOKYO, AFP: The Japanese MotoGP was cancelled over the coronavirus yesterday as organisers said they would concentrate on holding as many races as possible in Europe this year.

The scrapping of the 16-18 October 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 19 July, would be the new season-opener, with Dorna suggesting slotting in the second race at the same circuit on 26 July.

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

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.