Assen ruled out until September?

If the Dutch MotoGP round at Assen is to be held this year it will almost certainly need to be delayed by at least two months.

On Tuesday the Dutch government extended its ban on major sporting events until September 1 and, significantly, also appears to have ruled out holding football matches behind closed doors.

Assen ruled out until September?

If the Dutch MotoGP round at Assen is to be held this year it will almost certainly need to be delayed by at least two months.

On Tuesday the Dutch government extended its ban on major sporting events until September 1 and, significantly, also appears to have ruled out holding football matches behind closed doors.

"Until [September 1], no professional football can be played, even without an audience," said a statement from the Dutch football association. "As a result, the board of professional football intends not to continue playing the 2019/20 competition."

The Dutch TT at Assen, part of the grand prix calendar since the inaugural 1949 season, is traditionally held on the last weekend in June. Last year's event attracted the biggest race day crowd of the season with 105,000 fans.

Delays to this year's MotoGP calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic means The Netherlands is currently due to host round two of the revised season, one week after the German Grand Prix.

But the Sachsenring is also seeking a new date after the German government extended its ban on major public gatherings until August 31.

With Finland yet to receive track homologation, and requiring a tyre test before the inaugural KymiRing race, August looks increasingly like the best-case scenario for the belated opening MotoGP of 2020.

It is hoped that around ten of the planned 20 races can still be salvaged this year. Most, if not all, would be held behind closed doors.

While the Dutch MotoGP event may yet be moved to the Autumn, doubts are increasing over whether the WorldSBK round - already postponed from April to August - can be changed yet again.

Official 2020 MotoGP Calendar (including free weekends)

Round

Date

Race

Circuit

1

8 March

Qatar (MotoGP cancelled)

Losail

?

3 May

Spain (postponed)

Jerez

?

17 May

France (postponed)

Le Mans

?

31 May

Italy (postponed)

Mugello

?

7 June

Catalunya (postponed)

Barcelona

2

21 June

Germany

Sachsenring

3

28 June

Netherlands

Assen

 

5 July

 

 

4

12 July

Finland

KymiRing (Subject to homologation)

 

19 July

 

Summer break

 

26 July

 

Summer break

 

2 August

 

Summer break

5

9 August

Czech Republic

Brno

6

16 August

Austria

Red Bull Ring

 

23 August

 

 

7

30 August

Great Britain

Silverstone

 

6 September

 

 

8

13 September

San Marino

Misano

 

20 September

 

 

9

27 September

Aragon

Aragon (rescheduled)

10

4 October

Thailand

Buriram (rescheduled)

 

11 October

 

 

11

18 October

Japan

Motegi

12

25 October

Australia

Phillip Island

13

1 November

Malaysia

Sepang

 

8 November

 

 

14

15 November

Americas

COTA (rescheduled)

15

22 November

Argentina

Termas de Rio Hondo (rescheduled)

16

29 November

Valencia

Ricardo Tormo (rescheduled)

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