July start for 2020 MotoGP season moves a step closer

The 2020 MotoGP World Championship season looks increasingly likely to kick off on July 19 in Jerez as Dorna and the Andalusian government close on an agreement to get racing back underway.

Though there are currently no MotoGP events scheduled now until August after a series of postponements and cancellations due to the coronavirus, talks are underway to move the rescheduled Jerez event to an earlier date in July.

According to Diario de Jerez, the regional government of Andalusia and the Mayor of Jerez have both thrown their weight of support behind the plans.

Moreover, Dorna looks set to take advantage by kicking off the season with two Jerez events back-to-back with one round being held on July 19 and another on July 26.

With a large portion of the GP paddock based out of Spain – including riders, teams and also Dorna personnel – Jerez is seen as the most logical starting point for the much-delayed season. 

From here the championship will likely head straight to Austria for another two events at the Red Bull Ring, then potentially to Brno, though it would take special dispensation from the Czech government due to the strict restrictions it currently has in place.

The events will take place behind closed doors with no spectators, while Dorna is working hard with teams to ensure they have a safe working environment that both doesn’t put them at risk of coronavirus or potentially pass it on.

Dorna believes it can run all three classes of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 with around 1000 people in total.