Rossi, Vinales, Marquez set for MotoGP Virtual Race!

With the MotoGP season on hold due to the coronavirus, Dorna has confirmed a Virtual Race is to take place involving some of the sport's biggest stars.

Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins and reigning champion Marc Marquez will be among those joining the digital grid on March 29, to do battle via the official MotoGP videogame.

The contest will involve a six-lap showdown at Italy's Mugello circuit, preceded by a five-minute qualifying time attack to decide the grid order.

The whole event, including qualifying, will be broadcast online at 15:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday March 29 and via selected TV broadcasters as well as across social media platforms.

The MotoGP initiative follows F1's Virtual Grand Prix series, which will see Esports events run as replacements to the postponed rounds of the 2020 season, with all teams and drivers invited to take part.

However, of the current F1 line-up, only Lando Norris (McLaren) and Nicholas Latifi (Williams) took part in last weekend's opening Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix.

The first real event of the 2020 MotoGP season is currently set for Jerez on May 3, but looks almost certain to be pushed back until at least June...