MotoGP grapples with problems of an interrupted season

MotoGP, like other sports and other businesses, is scrambling to deal with the problems posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

In the elite motorcycling championship, the 2020 season has yet to start. Teams, riders and organisers are trying to work out how they can rearrange the calendar, make up for financial losses and ensure a level track technically.

While the Moto2 and Moto3 categories competed in the opening race in Qatar, the headline MotoGP event was cancelled.

Dorna, the series promoter, has also postponed the next three events in Thailand, Texas and Argentina and hopes to run them in the second half of the season.

The May races in Spain, France and Italy are in doubt.

Dorna has already said it will push back the end of the season two weeks to 29 November.

It could also add races during the summer break (July 13-August 2) or extend the season further, within the limits imposed by logistics, time differences and weather.

"Our aim," said Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, "is to maintain the Championship with the maximum number of races."
- 'Difficult scenario' -
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"We are going to be travelling and racing until very late this year, until late in December perhaps," he said. "That means that the season next year will start early."