FIM President Viegas: We will race in January 2021 if necessary

The FIM President Jorge Viegas says the 2020 racing season will be extended into the start of 2021 if necessary to ensure a full completion of campaigns following the coronavirus outbreak.

With the coronavirus suspending all international motorsport, MotoGP has postponed its season until May while in World Superbikes the next scheduled round at Assen on April 17-19 remains under threat due to travel bans.

Currently MotoGP faces the biggest rescheduling headache with its race calendar, which restarts at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on May 1-3, which will see a 19-round campaign completed in Valencia at the end of November to cap off eight races in the space of 10 weeks.

As the coronavirus crisis continues to develop across the globe, the 2020 MotoGP calendar is seen as more of a provisional plan than definitive schedule meaning further delays and changes are expected over the coming weeks.

FIM President Viegas accepts that situation is a likely reality and with MotoGP requiring a minimum of 13 rounds to be completed to permit a world championship in 2020 he feels the sport’s governing body must keep open the possibility of racing into the start of 2021.

“Yes, if necessary. Imagine that several events have yet to be cancelled and that we have to resume racing much later,” Viegas said in an interview with La Tribune de Geneve.

“We will go as far as it takes to keep championships worthy of the name. If it is necessary, we will go until January 2021. For us, it is not taboo.”

Viegas also feels the wider impact of the coronavirus on health and economics worldwide remains a priority before considering motorcycle sport activities.

According to reports in Italy, Ducati has temporarily closed its factories and offices to reorganise its working procedures to provide better social distancing amid coronavirus prevention plans, while Ferrari and Lamborghini have closed their entire operations until the end of March at least.

“Of course, and if we get out of our little motorcycle world for a moment, we have to worry about the global consequences,” Viegas said.

“Factories are shut down, schools closed, all economic activity slows down. There will be consequences, but they are still difficult to quantify.”