MotoGP waiting on F1 calendar, Wednesday test at Jerez

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has confirmed that a test session is planned for the Wednesday prior to the newly proposed MotoGP season-opener at Jerez.

But a revised 2020 calendar is unlikely to be issued until next month, partly because MotoGP is "also waiting for the F1 calendar" to avoid clashing with the four-wheel series where possible.

After a series of postponements and cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic, MotoGP announced on Thursday that a proposal would be made to the Spanish Government to start the season with two consecutive MotoGP races at Jerez, on July 19 and 24, followed by a WorldSBK event on August 2.

The sport is creating a safety 'protocol' for closed-door events (without fans), including a limit on the number of team staff and frequent coronavirus testing for all paddock members.

The Vice President of the Regional Government of Andalusia and Mayor of Jerez are backing the July races, but the final say will come from the Spanish government.

"Our idea is to propose to the Spanish government the possibility to do these events following a protocol we are creating. We are waiting for the official answer from the Spanish government regarding that matter," Ezpeleta said.

"We think it’s something where we’ll be in connection with them next week following different meetings, and then finally we’ll know if this is enough to make it possible to have these Grands Prix at that time."

If the green light is given then a MotoGP test session will be held "on the Wednesday before the first weekend" allowing riders and teams to familiarise themselves with machines that haven’t been on track since February.

Currently only four of this year's 20 rounds have been cancelled; Qatar, Sachsenring, Assen and KymiRing. But more cancellations are sure to follow, with only around 10-12 races now seen as feasible (or 5-6 circuits, if two races per track).

Circuits tipped to join Jerez on the final 2020 calendar include Aragon, Catalunya and Misano (since, like Jerez, they can be twinned with a WorldSBK event) plus the likes of Austria and Brno. Overseas rounds remain unclear.

"We are going through similar procedures [to Jerez] with the governments in each country we want to go to, but that’s separate and we think maybe by the first part of June we can propose a calendar," Ezpeleta said.

"We’re looking at different dates, but we’re also waiting for the F1 calendar – and it will be difficult because it’s a short time and there will be many events – to try and avoid clashes with Formula 1."

Austria is the planned location for F1's season opener, in early July.