Sepang CEO asks, 'would fans like two Malaysian MotoGPs?'

The ongoing coronavirus disruption means there is no shortage of rumours surrounding the 2020 MotoGP calendar.

This weekend's Qatar season-opener has already been cancelled for the premier-class following entry restrictions placed on Italian visitors, with round two in Thailand postponed until October due to limits on large public gatherings.

Round three in Texas was thus listed as the new premier-class season-opener on an updated calendar released on Thursday.

But that is also in jeopardy after the City of Austin announced a 'local state of disaster' and cancelled the upcoming South by Southwest festival, as a precaution against the coronavirus.

Dorna is intent on holding as many of the planned rounds as possible, but imaginative ideas might be required:

“Contractually with the FIM [we must do] 13 races, but our aim is to do all 19 remaining races… Maybe we will race in hot countries at Christmas!" said CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.

One such hot country is Malaysia, which already holds the penultimate round of the championship.

But Sepang Circuit CEO Razlan Razali has now raised an interesting question by posting a link to a poll asking if local fans would like to see two MotoGP races in Malaysia this season.

'What do you guys think?'  wrote Razali, who also oversees the Sepang Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP teams.

The current poll results show 96% of fans that responded would like it to happen…

Rumours suggest that, if needed, Sepang - venue for the opening pre-season MotoGP test in February - could be willing to step in at short notice to replace one of the troubled early-season rounds.

With its November event often sold-out, spectator numbers for a second race should not be a concern.

The warm Malaysian climate (and recent MotoGP testing data) means Sepang would also be a much more suitable early-season substitute than Spanish circuits such as Aragon or Jerez, which had been touted as potentially taking COTA's place.

While most countries only host a single MotoGP event per season, Spain holds four rounds and Italy two, although all are at different circuits.

*Evening race.

**Subject to circuit homologation