Smith 'planning to be at round one'

There is less than one month to go until MotoGP's new season-openers take place at Jerez, on July 19 and 26th.

But at present, Aprilia's 2020 rider line-up remains unconfirmed.

Smith 'planning to be at round one'

There is less than one month to go until MotoGP's new season-openers take place at Jerez, on July 19 and 26th.

But at present, Aprilia's 2020 rider line-up remains unconfirmed.

It is known that test and wild-card rider Bradley Smith will step in for Andrea Iannone if the Italian is unable to get his 18-month ban lifted at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

However, the exact date of the appeal verdict remains unclear.

A CAS statement earlier this month, confirming appeals had been registered by both Iannone (seeking to have the 18-month ban annulled) and WADA (seeking a four-year ban), said that 'no hearing date has been fixed yet.'

All of which leaves Smith in an unusual situation.

The Englishman has been on standby since Iannone's failed doping test was announced last December and was on the verge of contesting the original (Qatar) season-opener in early March, until the coronavirus put the 2020 season on hold.

“I’m learning to be patient,” Smith told the Oxford Mail. “Until I’ve got something concrete in front of me it’s difficult to say how long I’ll be racing for [this season].

“Andrea’s trial isn’t looking like it will be before the first couple of races, so we’re kind of sat waiting for Aprilia to press the green button.

“As of right now, I’m planning to be at round one.”

Smith, a MotoGP podium finisher for Tech3 Yamaha, will be taking part in his second Aprilia test since the end of lockdown at Misano this week.

Aleix Espargaro – now confirmed at Aprilia until the end of 2022 - will also be on track, plus all four KTM race riders and the Ducati and Suzuki test teams.

Smith's 2020 Aprilia race duties would mean he is unable to take part in this year's MotoE World Cup, having finished second overall during the inaugural electric-bike season.

Revised 2020 MotoGP Calendar (including free weekends)

Round

Date

Race

Circuit

 

15 July

Official Test

Jerez

1

19 July

Spain

Jerez

2

26 July

Andalusia

Jerez

 

2 August

 

 

3

9 August

Czech Republic

Brno

4

16 August

Austria

Red Bull Ring

5

23 August

Styria

Red Bull Ring

 

30 August

  
 

6 September

  

6

13 September

San Marino e Della Riviera di Rimini

Misano

7

20 September

Emilia Romagna e Della Riviera di Rimini

Misano

8

27 September

Catalunya

Barcelona

 

4 October

  

9

11 October

France

Le Mans

10

18 October

Aragon

Aragon

11

25 October

Teruel

Aragon

 

1 November

  

12

8 November

Europe

Ricardo Tormo

13

15 November

Comunitat Valenciana

Ricardo Tormo

(Final European race)

 

22 November

  
 

29 November

  

 

6 December

 

 

 

13 December

 

Deadline for any Flyaway races.

MotoGP 2020: List of 'To Be Confirmed' events

1

4 October

Thailand

Buriram

2

1 November

Malaysia

Sepang

3

15 November

Americas

COTA

4

22 November

Argentina

Termas de Rio Hondo

MotoGP 2020: List of Cancelled events

1

8 March

Qatar (MotoGP class)

Losail

2

31 May

Italy

Mugello

3

21 June

Germany

Sachsenring

4

28 June

Netherlands

Assen

5

12 July

Finland

KymiRing

6

30 August

Great Britain

Silverstone

7

18 October

Japan

Motegi

8

25 October

Australia

Phillip Island

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