Quartararo: We will have to be really careful
Finishing races and avoiding injury will be especially important during MotoGP's revised 13-round season.
That's according to Petronas Yamaha ace Fabio Quartararo, who is also delighted to see his home grand prix at Le Mans among the eight European circuits to make the new line-up.
"I’m really happy that we finally have a calendar," Quartararo said. "Thanks go to Dorna and IRTA for the great job done. I’m training really hard for it and we finally have a confirmed start date, so our target is now on July 19th in Jerez.
Finishing races and avoiding injury will be especially important during MotoGP's revised 13-round season.
That's according to Petronas Yamaha ace Fabio Quartararo, who is also delighted to see his home grand prix at Le Mans among the eight European circuits to make the new line-up.
"I’m really happy that we finally have a calendar," Quartararo said. "Thanks go to Dorna and IRTA for the great job done. I’m training really hard for it and we finally have a confirmed start date, so our target is now on July 19th in Jerez.
"It will be a different calendar, the only one that can go ahead in this extraordinary situation. We will have back-to-back races at the same circuit and less GPs, but I think the most important thing in this kind of championship is to finish races and go race-by-race."
There will be just five weekends off between at Jerez and the Valencia (European) finale, four months later.
"We will have to be really careful with crashes and injuries because, with such a tight championship, one injury can mean you’re out for a lot of races. It will also be important to follow the [coronavirus] protocols strictly," said the seven-time MotoGP podium finisher.
"Honestly after all the rumours during the last couple of months in the media, I never expected a race in France. It was a really nice surprise."
Quartararo hopes more pleasant surprises will follow in the form of fans being able to attend some races this year and the chance to race in the Sepang team's home Malaysian event.
"Hopefully, if the worldwide situation improves, maybe they can also open the circuits to a small number of fans – that would be great. We miss them a lot!" Quartararo said. "Now the most important thing is to step-by-step, stay healthy and later we will have time to enjoy the entire MotoGP experience again.
"If we can conclude the year at the home GP of the team in Malaysia it would be an extra bonus for a really difficult start of the year."
A decision on holding any flyaway races will be made by the end of July.
Revised 2020 MotoGP Calendar (including free weekends) | |||||||||
Round | Date | Race | Circuit | ||||||
| 15 July | Official Test | Jerez | ||||||
1 | 19 July | Spain | Jerez | ||||||
2 | 26 July | Andalusia | Jerez | ||||||
| 2 August |
|
| ||||||
3 | 9 August | Czech Republic | Brno | ||||||
4 | 16 August | Austria | Red Bull Ring | ||||||
5 | 23 August | Styria | Red Bull Ring | ||||||
30 August | |||||||||
6 September | |||||||||
6 | 13 September | San Marino e Della Riviera di Rimini | Misano | ||||||
7 | 20 September | Emilia Romagna e Della Riviera di Rimini | Misano | ||||||
8 | 27 September | Catalunya | Barcelona | ||||||
4 October | |||||||||
9 | 11 October | France | Le Mans | ||||||
10 | 18 October | Aragon | Aragon | ||||||
11 | 25 October | Teruel | Aragon | ||||||
1 November | |||||||||
12 | 8 November | Europe | Ricardo Tormo | ||||||
13 | 15 November | Comunitat Valenciana | Ricardo Tormo (Final European race) | ||||||
22 November | |||||||||
29 November | |||||||||
| 6 December |
|
| ||||||
| 13 December |
| Deadline for any Flyaway races. | ||||||
MotoGP 2020: List of 'To Be Confirmed' events | |||||||||
1 |
| Thailand | Buriram | ||||||
2 |
| Malaysia | Sepang | ||||||
3 |
| Americas | COTA | ||||||
4 | 22 November | Argentina | Termas de Rio Hondo | ||||||
MotoGP 2020: List of Cancelled events | |||||||||
1 |
| Qatar (MotoGP class) | Losail | ||||||
2 |
| Italy | Mugello | ||||||
3 |
| Germany | Sachsenring | ||||||
4 |
| Netherlands | Assen | ||||||
5 |
| Finland | KymiRing | ||||||
6 |
| Great Britain | Silverstone | ||||||
7 |
| Japan | Motegi | ||||||
8 |
| Australia | Phillip Island | ||||||
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
