Motorcycle Live show cancelled for 2020

The Motorcycle Live show has been cancelled for 2020 amid the ongoing uncertainties regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event, which takes place annually in November, is considered one of the centrepieces for the motorcycle show circuit with a number of world premieres and motorsport announcements traditionally taking place.

However, ‘concern for public safety and well-being of industry colleagues’ has led to this year’s event being postponed until 2021.

“Motorcycle Live is all about audience interaction, meeting with friends, climbing onto all the latest machines and trying on the all latest gear,” said managing director Finlay McAllen. Many of us use it as an annual pilgrimage to meet with friends and family and enjoy a great day out together. 

“And it’s not just the public who join us each day – we, alongside our industry colleagues – look forward to the event every year too. Therefore, as you can imagine, the decision to postpone this year’s show has not been taken lightly. Our concern for the safety of our visitors, exhibitors and industry colleagues is at the heart of this decision.

“As with any hard decision, we looked at it with a number of different perspectives and factored in various scenarios and restrictions that could be imposed. Running an event like Motorcycle Live under the COVID-19 related restrictions – such as adhering to social distancing requirements, restricting attendance numbers and dictating the direction of people around the hall – all ultimately would have impacted negatively on the experience of those attending and therefore the very essence of the show.

“The whole of the Motorcycle Live team is extremely disappointed – as we’re sure that you are too – but rest assured we will continue working behind the scenes to deliver you a fantastic show in 2021. In the meantime, stay safe and look after each other.”

Motorcycle Live traditionally takes place in the weeks after the premier EICMA show in Milan. As it stands, there has been no confirmation as to whether that event will go ahead after Italy was hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 crisis.

In the meantime though both BMW and KTM have announced they won’t be present this year if it does indeed go ahead, choosing instead to turn its focus to online launches instead.