Argentina postpones MXGP, MotoGP next?

How long will the latest MotoGP calendar last?

If the newly-announced postponement of Argentina's Motocross Grand Prix is anything to go by, the country's forthcoming MotoGP event is unlikely to go ahead.

'Owing to a decision of the Argentinian Minister of Health to postpone any international events during this particular moment, Infront Moto Racing, in agreement with the FIM and the local organiser +Eventos SA, as well as the Argentinian authorities, is enforced to postpone the MXGP of Patagonia in Argentina to a later date in the year,' read an MXGP statement.

Termas de Rio Hondo (scheduled for April 17-19) took over as the latest venue for MotoGP's 2020 season-opener on Tuesday, when the previous round in Austin, Texas was postponed until November.

The US decision followed the cancellation of Qatar for the premier-class and postponement of Thailand until October.

The changes have been made due to government efforts to control the spread of coronavirus, either through entry restrictions for those that have visited 'hotspots' such as Italy, or by banning large public gatherings.

If Argentina is delayed, the start of the 2020 MotoGP season could be pushed back until the opening European round at Jerez in May.

However, soon after Tuesday's calendar update was released Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta hinted that another event could yet be found to take over the April 3-5 COTA date.

Sepang seemed willing to hold a second race this season, but Malaysia has just announced a ban on Italians entering the country from March 13. Portimao was also a rumoured last-minute venue but has never previously hosted MotoGP. Another Portuguese circuit, Estoril, has not held a GP since 2012.

Should Termas join Buriram and COTA in being pushed towards the end of the season it would worsen an already cramped line-up.

October and November now have three races each, including an end-of-season run from Malaysia to the USA and then Spain… assuming Italians (and those that have recently visited Italy) can enter Malaysia again by then.

Meanwhile, the European MotoGP rounds are looking far from certain with the 24 Heures Motos FIM World Endurance event at Le Mans being postponed due to 'the French health minister’s ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people'. 

The race was due to take place on April 18-19, at the same circuit where the French MotoGP round is scheduled for May 15-17. The following Mugello round is also an obvious question mark, given the current restrictions throughout Italy.

With calendar-space running out for further postponements, some races might need to be run without fans (as Bahrain has chosen to do for its upcoming F1 event) and 'double-headers' used to make up for cancelled events.