Argentina insists its MotoGP is not at risk

With Qatar cancelled for the MotoGP class and Thailand postponed, Argentina has attempted to quell speculation about its forthcoming MotoGP event.

Argentina is due to host what would now be round two of the season on April17-19, assuming the new MotoGP class season-opener in Texas goes ahead from April 3-5.

Qatar was cancelled when the country imposed a blanket two-week quarantine for all arrivals that had recently visited Italy, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Thailand then postponed its planned MotoGP event at Buriram from March 20-22 'to reflect the government's seriousness in tackling the [coronavirus] problem', by halting any events with large numbers of spectators.

That has put the remaining pair of opening flyaways, at COTA and Termas de Rio Hondo, under the spotlight.

As things stand, both are still going ahead.

However, doubts over COTA have been raised due to the 'Level 4 - Do Not Travel' warning issued by the US State Department for the Lombardy and Veneto region of Northern Italy, which has prompted the cancellation of some American flights to Milan, plus a 'Level 3 - Reconsider travel' warning issued for the country as a whole.

While the US has reported 88 cases of the virus, there have not been any recorded cases in Argentina, where the grand prix organisers have issued a statement explaining that there are no barriers to prevent MotoGP going ahead:

'Argentina currently has no restrictions on the outbreak of coronavirus and no problem is projected due to the security protocol of the Ministry of Health of the Nation and the Government of Santiago del Estero…

'The MotoGP date in Argentina will run normally and will continue to be part of the 2020 World Championship ​​Calendar.'