Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions
by Ian Royall from https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/ The 2020 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, scheduled for October 25 at Phillip Island, has been cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions. The four-day MotoGP weekend at the island is regional Victoria’s biggest sporting event, attracting more than 85,000 spectators and generating about $50 million for the state economy. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation and the sport’s commercial rights holder Dorna made the call to cancel the GP, the latest event to get the axe. The British GP, due to be held on August 30 at Silverstone, has also been cancelled. No races have been held yet this year with tentative plans to start in Spain in late July. Aussie Ducati rider Jack Miller said he was disappointed he would not be able to race in front of home fans at the island. “It’s my favourite weekend of the whole year and it’s the best circuit in the world so it’ll be a shame not to be there,’’ Miller told the Herald Sun. Miller finished third in the 2019 race at the island last October. Mick Doohan, five-time 500cc world champion and AGPC board member said it would be the first year since 1997 that Phillip Island had not hosted the Australian GP. “The race will return in 2021 and provide an opportunity to make it one of the biggest and best-attended MotoGP events we’ve seen, plus watch Miller take the win,” Doohan said. Full refunds would be given to all ticket holders. AGPC chairman Paul Little said the race would be back better than ever in 2021. Dorna chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta said: “We’re saddened to have to announce the cancellation of this iconic event after finding no way through the logistical and operational issues resulting from the pandemic and rearranged calendar.’’ The race cancellation will […]
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