Isle of Man TT cancelled amid coronavirus outbreak

The 2020 Isle of Man TT has been called off amid the coronavirus crisis.

Following the coronavirus outbreak which has effectively postponed the international motorsport schedule until at least May, Isle of Man TT officials and the local government authorities have been assessing the situation since February.

Crunch meetings between the TT organisers and Isle of Man government officials were held on Monday (March 16) to evaluate recent developments, which has led to the full cancellation of the 2020 event.

“The decision to cancel has not been taken lightly and all options including postponement and delaying the decision have been considered in detail,” Laurence Skelly, MHK, Minister for Enterprise, said.

“Representatives from the Isle of Man Government will now discuss the implications with all relevant businesses, stakeholders and individuals affected by this cancellation, which it recognises will be significant.

“With the visitor restriction in place for the foreseeable future we wanted to make the decision now to give businesses, visitors and all involved stakeholders time to manage the impact going forward.

“The Isle of Man, and the Isle of Man TT, are faced with unique challenges regarding COVID-19 and making this decision will provide certainty to teams, competitors, sponsors and stakeholders of the event and to visitors across the globe.

“The decision also aims to provide reassurance for our residents and healthcare professionals that the health and well-being of the Isle of Man’s residents is the single biggest priority and focus of this Government.”

It marks the first time the Isle of Man TT has been fully cancelled since 2001 during the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in the UK.

In a statement from TT organisers, all tickets and packages will receive full refunds.

“We share in the disappointment of having no TT in this year, but whole heartedly support any decision that helps to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of all residents, riders and visitors,” the Isle of Man TT statement read.

“Staging the TT is no small undertaking and it simply wouldn’t be possible without the assistance, support and goodwill of countless businesses, organisations and volunteers. We will be talking to each and every one of you over the coming days and weeks about our next steps, but would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your patience and understanding.

“Both the Isle of Man and the TT Races have a long, incredible history, and have time and again proved to be as strong and resilient as they are unique. With the continued love and support of all TT fans, we can be confident that the greatest road race in the world will soon return and light up our lives once more.

“For the time being, please stay safe, healthy and happy, and we’ll see you all again soon.”

A final decision on the 2020 Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix, scheduled to start on August 22^nd 2020, has been postponed in order to review the developing coronavirus situation.