Coronavirus causes MotoGP race in Qatar to be canceled

The first MotoGP race of the 2020 season on the Losail circuit in Qatar will not take place on Sunday March 8 due to the risks associated with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic. The Moto2 and Moto3 Grands Prix are maintained. Explanations. 

This delicate decision is taken after the Qatari authorities have decided to apply a precautionary principle to all people coming from, among others, Italy, widely affected by the Coronavirus.

• MNC special file :

Transalpine nationals and all people who have stayed in Italy during the last 15 days who arrive in Qatar will be placed in quarantine, as will those coming from other countries where many outbreaks of Covid-19 are active.

This particularly concerns riders like Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso, as well as teams with Italian roots like Aprilia, Honda-LCR or Ducati. In their absence, the race could no longer take place.

"Italy clearly plays an essential role in the championship and in the MotoGP category – on and off the track – and this is why the decision was taken to cancel the race in the premier category", explain this Sunday evening the organizers, the FIM and Dorna.

The Moto3 and Moto2 Grand Prix of Qatar are to this day maintained as the teams and riders were already present at Losail for their last offseason testing.

More information to follow: stay connected.

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