Responding to the coronavirus outbreak and resulting race cancellations, the Madrid based MotoGP and WSBK rights holder, Dorna, has moved to secure the future of the MotoGP World Championship series by announcing support for the series' independent teams - those who do not have full, in-house OE manufacturer financial backing.
"With the agreement of the FIM and the full commitment from shareholders Bridgepoint Capital and CPP Investments, Dorna Sports is proud to be able to assure help for MotoGP class independent teams through this difficult moment in the history of our sport, as well as teams in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes.
"Through the International Road-Racing Teams Association, MotoGP independent teams will each receive considerable advance payments during the months of April, May and June, irrespective of whether activity is restarted or not. This is in order to guarantee the economic wellbeing of the independent teams and their staff, as well as to secure their subsistence for the future.
"In addition, IRTA has already made payments to all Moto2 and Moto3 teams to support them during this difficult period. Further measures for the intermediate and lightweight class teams will be considered in due course.
"As previously stated, Dorna Sports is working hard to try and ensure that this crisis leaves all those in the MotoGP World Championship with only one consequence - that of a modified calendar."
Reports in Spain and the United States say that the financial support is in the amount of € 250,000 per month for the three months of April, May and June. The MotoGP teams to benefit from the payments include Petronas Yamaha, Red Bull KTM Tech3, Reale Avintia Ducati, Pramac Ducati, LCR Honda and the Gresini Aprilia squad (still an independent).
The Moto2 and Moto3 teams will receive support in addition to the € 25,000 per rider they have already been promised. So far, no announcements have been made about support for WSBK teams.
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Italian and Catalan Grand Prix Postponed
Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the GP d’Italia Oakley (Autodromo del Mugello, May 29-31) and GP Monster Energy de Catalunya (Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, June 5-7) are the latest MotoGP rounds to have been postponed.
Dorna says that "as the situation remains in a state of constant evolution, new dates for these Grand Prix events, as well as the recently postponed French and Spanish GPs, cannot be confirmed until it becomes clearer when exactly it will be possible to hold the events. A revised calendar will be published as soon as available."
As things stand at April 4th and per the original MotoGP calendar for 2020, the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland on June 21st will be the opening round at the Sachsenring (Chemnitz), Saxony, Germany.