Some bad news to bring you on a Monday morning: thanks to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, MotoGP has been forced to cancel the first round of its 2020 championship in Qatar and postpone the second round in Thailand.

The Grand Prix of Qatar was due to kick off the season this coming weekend, but travel restrictions imposed on those entering the country from Italy (amongst other countries) means the race cannot go ahead. 

The Moto2 and Moto3 classes will race in Qatar, though, as the teams and riders were already at the circuit for testing.

The Thai Grand Prix was due to be held on 22 March but has been postponed rather than cancelled for the moment. “The FIM, IRTA and Dorna are currently evaluating if an alternative date is possible for the event later this season,” said a MotoGP statement.

This means we’ll have to wait almost a month longer for the championship to begin, with the first round now likely to take place at the Circuit of the Americas on 5 April.

MotoGP isn’t the first form of international motorsport to have races cancelled thanks to the outbreak – Formula 1 and Formula E both recently announced that their respective Chinese races would not go ahead.

STORY Greg Potts
PHOTOS MotoGP