Sachsenring seeks new MotoGP date

As rumoured, Sachsenring says it will not be able to keep its place as the belated 2020 MotoGP season-opener on June 21 and is to request a new date.

An announcement was issued in response to a German government decision to extended the ban on large public gatherings until August 31.

'We are in talks with the MotoGP rights holder Dorna and with the responsible authorities to find a new date for the motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sachsenring,' said a statement from event organiser ADAC.

'The health of fans and everyone involved is always the top priority. The purchased tickets remain valid for the new date. We ask our loyal fans for some patience.'

A weekend audience of 201,000 fans attended last year's German Grand Prix, putting it behind only Thailand (226,000) and France (206,000).

Sachsenring is thus set to joins Losail, Buriram, COTA, Termas, Jerez, Le Mans, Mugello and Catalunya on the cancelled/postponed list, while putting Assen on June 28 as the new provisional start to the season.

But that is also thought unlikely to materialise unless there is a dramatic breakthrough in countering the coronavirus.

Instead an August or September start, probably behind closed doors, and total of around 10 rounds before a mid-December cut-off is currently seen as the best-case scenario for 2020.

The rounds facing cancellation are not yet clear, but some are likely to be ruled out simply due to ongoing travel/entry restrictions…