June 'fallback date' for French MotoGP

Claude Michy, promoter of the French MotoGP, has confirmed that Le Mans could soon join the list of postponed events.

Currently, the circuit is due to host what would be the second round of a disrupted season, on May 17.

But with the coronavirus yet to be contained in Europe, Le Mans - like the other May events scheduled for Jerez and Mugello - could be forced to abandon its planned date.

"We will decide in the first week of April what to do, depending on the health situation. There is no point in rushing," Michy told lequipe.fr.

Asked about a 'fallback date' should the French event be postponed, Michy named the weekend of June 12-14.

That was the weekend of the famous 24-hour car race, now postponed until September 19-20… but if June was seen as too early for the car event, would it be any more viable for MotoGP?

"Postponing the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the original dates in June is now the most appropriate way forward in the current exceptional circumstances," Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, had said of changing the car event. "The most important thing today is to curtail the spread of this virus."

As the most popular European MotoGP event of last season with 206,333 weekend fans - putting it second overall behind only Buriram - every effort is sure to be made to run the French event at some stage this year.

Michy made clear he would not consider a 'closed-door' event saying "a GP is a celebration", while warning it is essential for MotoGP to run some form of championship this season:

"The main thing is that the championship takes place. With only 10 or 11 races if necessary. The future of this competition and the teams depends on it."

The F1 World Championship is targetting its rescheduled first event on June 7 in Azerbaijan, with a first European round in France on June 28.