French MotoGP hopes for mid-May decision

Organisers of the French MotoGP hope that a decision on whether the delayed 2020 event will go ahead later this year can be made by May 15.

That is the date when Friday practice would have taken place at Le Mans, the most well-attended European round of last year with 206,323 weekend fans, had the coronavirus pandemic not forced MotoGP to so far cancel/postpone its opening eight events.

Presently Le Mans, Jerez, Mugello and Catalunya have been suspended without an alternative date while the sport awaits a clearer indication of when racing can restart.

The Le Mans organisers maintain that holding the 2020 race later in the year 'remains a possibility' but understand fans are frustrated by the current uncertainty and hope that, alongside the FIM and Dorna, a decision will be made within the next month.

Given the ever-later start to the season, the best-case scenario appears to be that MotoGP will be able to fit in around half of the 20-rounds planned before its unofficial cut-off date of December 15. However, the identity of the events likely to be dropped remains unclear.

So far, the only round cancelled for the MotoGP class is the Qatar season opener, which still went ahead for Moto2 and Moto3.