'Lucky' if MotoGP restarts by Catalunya?

As things stand, the coronavirus-delayed start to the 2020 MotoGP season is set for Jerez on May 1-3.

But unless there is a dramatic breakthrough in controlling and/or treating the disease, it would be no surprise if the Spanish round - plus the following French and Italian GPs - joined Buriram, COTA and Termas de Rio Hondo in being postponed.

Given the increasing travel and crowd restrictions being implemented throughout Europe, and while awaiting the next calendar update from Dorna, the personal opinion of IRTA president Herve Poncharal is that MotoGP will be 'lucky' to start at Catalunya in June.

"At the moment we can't gloss over anything, we have to be honest and admit: Nobody has a clue how far the virus will spread and nobody has any idea how long the strict new regulations and measures will remain in force," Poncharal told Speedweek.com.

"Most countries in Europe have cordoned off. The big sporting events have been cancelled, all the well-known bike races, the Roland Garros tennis tournament, the World Cup will only take place in 2021, and there is a huge question mark behind the Olympic Games in Japan in July…

"So before we can return to normal life and gather 100,000 people on a race track on a Sunday... a lot of water will still flow under the bridge."

The Frenchman added: "We still have 19 Grand Prix to do. For me, however, it seems impossible that we will have the opportunity to do this number. But I emphasize that this is just my personal view of things…

"We are seeing all countries tighten their measures day by day and I strongly suspect the grands prix in May are in great danger, i.e. Jerez, Le Mans and Mugello.

"We can count ourselves lucky if we can restart in Catalunya in early June."

Should the May events be postponed, and depending on any further cancellations, it's possible that the MotoGP calendar will stretch into December and/or that space currently allocated for the summer break, from July 12 (Finland)-August 9 (Czech Republic), could be used.

Another weekend could be found by delaying the debut of the KymiRing circuit in Finland, currently awaiting FIM homologation, until 2021. That would also remove the need for factories to take part in a Michelin test at the track from June 15-16.

*Subject to circuit homologation.