Formula E and MotoGP postpone more races as global coronavirus situation worsens

Sam Hall
Wednesday 11 March 2020 10:06

Formula E and MotoGP have both announced further disruptions to their schedules in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

MotoGP had already postponed the opening two races of their 2020 calendar - races in Qatar and Thailand - but now the new season opener in the United States has also been put back.

"The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports regret to announce the postponement of the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, which was set to take place from the 3rd to the 5th of April 2020," read the statement. "Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the event has been rescheduled for later in the season and will now take place from the 13th to the 15th of November.

"The Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana will therefore be held from the 20th to 22nd of November 2020."

Similarly, Formula E, a championship that has already cancelled or postponed races in China and Italy, have postponed the Jakarta ePrix.

A statement from Formula E read, "As instructed by the Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan - and in consultation together with Formula E, the FIA, Ikatan Motor Indonesia (IMI) and the Organising Committee of the Jakarta E-Prix (OC) - it will no longer be possible to race in Jakarta on the scheduled date of June 6, 2020. "Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the escalating number of cases in Indonesia and Jakarta, the decision has been taken as the most responsible course of action, to protect the health and safety of championship participants, staff and spectators. "We will continue to monitor the situation closely with the relevant authorities and the Organising Committee of the Jakarta E-Prix, in order to assess the possibilities of rescheduling the race at a later date."

The event was scheduled to be the first time Formula E would have raced on the streets of the Indonesian capital.