Mugello: We will all come back stronger

After the official postponement of this year’s Italian MotoGP, Mugello chief Paolo Poli has sent out a message of support to fans and has promised when it can reschedule Grand Prix racing it will host an “extraordinary” celebration.

Following speculation over recent days, both Mugello and Barcelona saw its MotoGP rounds indefinitely postponed today joining Jerez and Le Mans in needing a rescheduled date as series organisers opt to wait for the coronavirus crisis to improve before laying out a reshuffled 2020 calendar.

With Mugello considered one of the standout races on the MotoGP calendar, while the Tuscany track has lost the star event on its own schedule, all parties involved are eager to see the Italian round find a slot on the adjusted 2020 plans.

In a statement released by Mugello, Poli has sent a message of support to all those effected by the COVID-19 pandemic as it prepares to change plans for 2020. Last month the track gave its medical equipment, including essential ventilators, to a local hospital to help treat coronavirus patients.

“We have hoped so far that the terrible emergency situation we have found ourselves in since the beginning of March could be resolved quickly,” Poli said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, this has not been the case: in the recent weeks the heath emergency has intensified to such an extent that we have been forced – despite ourselves – to postpone the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley scheduled for Mugello on 31^st May.

“Our primary focus is now on our spectators, fans, teams and professional staff who, at every level, have always guaranteed the highest organisational standard. All of us are currently undergoing a very tough test.”

Poli remains confident Mugello can put on an Italian GP of “extraordinary strength, cohesion and rebirth” once Europe and the rest of the world is over the worst of the health crisis.

“With the knowledge that the coming will not be easy for anyone, we are equally sure that we will all come back stronger than before,” he said. “For our part, we will work hard to ensure that the next one, on whatever date it may be, will be an edition of extraordinary strength, cohesion and rebirth because “almugellononsidorme”, never!”

So far, Italy has seen over 130,000 cases of COVID-19 while the country has recorded over 16,000 deaths – the highest of any nation worldwide.

Mugello had been preparing to potentially host Valentino Rossi’s final Italian Grand Prix as the nine-time world champion weighs up his future between racing in MotoGP next year or retiring at the end of this season.

While the Tuscany track hopes to nail down a rescheduled race date later this year, the ongoing delays to the 2020 season could see Rossi opt to continue racing next year given his lack of opportunity for a final bow this year.

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— Mugello Circuit () (@MugelloCircuit) April 7, 2020

For now, Sachsenring is set to host the 2020 MotoGP opener on June 21 but that date remains provisional given the current situation and travel restrictions across Europe.