MotoGP News: British and Australian MotoGP rounds cancelled for 2020

The British and Australian MotoGP races have been called off for this season, bringing the total number of race cancellations in 2020 up to five.

The British MotoGP at Silverstone had been scheduled for 30 August, while the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island was in the initial race calendar for 25 October.

But with the United Kingdom set to impose a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone arriving from outside of Great Britain and Ireland from 8 June, the feasibility of arranging a race which would likely to have been held behind closed doors at Silverstone has meant the race has been cancelled.

It follows the recent cancellation of the 2018 British MotoGP when bad weather combined with track surfacing and drainage issues forced that race to be called off.

Similar logistic problems have also meant the Australian MotoGP has been canned for 2020, while fitting the race into a suitable calendar slot within seasonal weather conditions to race at Phillip Island has also posed an issue.

"We're saddened to have to announce the cancellation of these iconic events after finding no way through the logistical and operational issues resulting from the pandemic and rearranged calendar," Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, said.

"Silverstone and Phillip Island are always two of the most thrilling race weekends of the season, with both tracks never failing in their promise to deliver some of the closest racing in our Championship.

"On behalf of Dorna, I would like to once again extend my thanks to the fans for their understanding and patience as we wait for the situation to improve. We look forward to returning to Silverstone and Phillip Island next year for more incredible battles."

MotoGP had previously cancelled the season-opening Qatar round, although the Moto2 and Moto3 classes held their races at Losail as scheduled as both championships were already in the country when the coronavirus pandemic struck.

The races in the Netherlands, Finland and Germany have also been struck from the schedule, while several other races have been postponed to later in the year.

Although the FIM and Dorna are yet to publish a revised 2020 calendar, the series has secured an agreement to host the opening two rounds at Jerez, pending approval from the Spanish government.

Should those plans come to fruition, the 2020 MotoGP season will start with the Spanish Grand Prix on 19 July, followed by the Grand Prix of Andalusia on the same venue on 26 July.