Covid-19: the 2020 Suzuka 8 Hours postponed to the end of autumn

Like the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours will not take place this summer … Rescheduled on November 1, the Japanese motorcycle endurance event recovers its final status of the 2019 EWC championship. -2020… and its increase in points! Explanations.

The announcement of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) is not a surprise: "due to the state of emergency established throughout the Japanese archipelago to fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, the "Suzuka 8 Hours" race is postponed ". The motorcycle endurance event was to take place five days before the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics … whose postponement to summer 2021 has been known for a month already.

More surprising, however, "the FIM, Eurosport Events (promoter of the FIM EWC) and Mobilityland (organizer of the Suzuka 8 Hours) have decided to postpone the event, initially scheduled for July 19, 2020, to an unprecedented date, Sunday November 1 " !

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• Endurance World Championship :

Since their start in 1978, the Suzuka 8 Hours have traditionally been held in the middle of summer, in particular to take advantage of the best possible weather conditions. Faced with an exceptional pandemic, the 43rd edition must be contested at the end of autumn, which is a game-changer. For two reasons…

In addition to much lower temperatures, a sun that is often less present and – slightly – increasing – precipitation, this postponement in November "replaces this 8 hour race as the final of the FIM EWC season". !

Another potentially serious consequence for the title at stake since (disputed last September!): The Japanese event which closes the EWC world championships since 2017 "will therefore once again benefit from an increase of 150% of the points at the arrival ", underlines the federation.

Next appointment set at – very provisional -: the, scheduled for August 29 and 30, 2020 … Until then, stay connected and #RestezChez Vous while waiting for deconfinement…

Statements

François Ribeiro, boss of Eurosport Events

"The global health crisis, the logistical constraints due to entry restrictions in Japan and our priority to protect the health of all Endurance players require this postponement of the Suzuka 8 Hours. We must salute the action of Mobilityland which has has been able to upset its calendar at Suzuka so that this major event of the championship remains the biggest celebration for motorcycle enthusiasts in Japan. To help the logistics of the teams on the opening of the next FIM EWC season, we will postpone the date of the 8H Sepang in January if necessary, just before the usual SBK / GP pre-tests on this circuit ".

Kaoru Tanaka, Chairman of Mobilityland Corporation

"We were in the midst of preparing for the ‘Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours’ race which was to be held in July but we have decided to postpone it due to the current situation which prohibits large-scale events with a large audience and restrictions traffic affecting European countries. We are counting on the understanding of all fans and players in this race in the face of this inevitable postponement. We will launch preparations to welcome them on November 1 in Suzuka ".

Jorge Viegas, President of the FIM

"Who would have imagined that the Suzuka 8 Hours would have to be postponed just a few weeks ago? However, we must stay strong and do everything in our power to get back to racing, as soon as possible, without taking any risks. I am sure that the loyal Suzuka spectators will once again enjoy a great spectacle and that this iconic race will retain its special place in the FIM World Endurance Championship. I take this opportunity to thank the Japanese Federation (MFJ) , Mobilityland Corporation and of course Eurosport Events for their efforts! "

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