Private MotoGP test arranged in absence of racing
Several MotoGP manufacturers are set to carry out a private test at Jerez later in March in the absence of racing this month as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
This weekend’s season-opening MotoGP round in Qatar had to be cancelled due to new quarantine procedures being placed on Italian travelers by the country, while Thailand’s ban on large public gatherings meant round two had to be postponed to 4 October.
Motorsport.com understands KTM has rented out the Jerez circuit from 18-20 March, with Honda and Suzuki set to join the Austrian marque.
Due to testing restrictions, both HRC and Suzuki will have to do so with their test riders Stefan Bradl and Sylvain Guintoli, though KTM – as it is a concession team – can use its full roster of works riders and satellite riders with Tech 3.
Aprilia was also due to take part in the test, with the Italian manufacturer also able to use its race riders.
However, Italy placed some 16 million of its citizens from various ‘red zone’ regions under quarantine in the early hours of Sunday morning in a bid to quell the outbreak of COVID-19 – which has infected more than 5800 people and killed 234 in the country.
Aprilia’s Noale base – situated in the province of Venezia – falls into the quarantine zone, making its appearance at the test unlikely.
Ducati currently avoids the quarantine zone, but has not designated Jerez as one of its private test venues for this year.
Yamaha also won’t be present at Jerez, but is expected to conduct a test on the same dates with test riders Jorge Lorenzo – who will race the M1 in a wildcard outing in Barcelona later this year – and Katsuyuki Nakasuga.
MotoGP’s first round is due to be the Americas Grand Prix on 5 April, though this is now looking increasingly unlikely.
Host city Austin declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 outbreak, while the situation in Italy affecting numerous paddock personnel – including Valentino Rossi – has cast further doubt on the Texas race.
The Italian declaration passed by the government does permit travel exceptional circumstances, such as work commitments which cannot be moved. It is unclear how this will relate to MotoGP.
F1, MotoGP face fresh doubts due to Italian quarantine plan
MotoGP could resort to double-headers amid coronavirus
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Motorsport.com, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock of Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. We analyse what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP's Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How praise for Honda's MotoGP bike has given way to doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's win was vital not only for his title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations
The MotoGP rookie fighting two fronts in his debut year
Darryn Binder has found himself in the unenviable position as MotoGP's most under-pressure rookie in 2022 having made the step directly from Moto3 with a reputation as an over-aggressive rider. This hasn't been an easy thing to shake at the start of the season, but he believes tangible progress is being made
How ‘Beast’ mode is putting Ducati in 2022 MotoGP title contention
Enea Bastianini’s second win of the 2022 campaign at COTA puts him back in the lead of the standings and once again showed the best Ducati package is still the 2021 bike. Those closest to Bastianini tell Motorsport.com why he’s so good on the GP21 relative to his factory counterparts.
How Espargaro helped Aprilia shed MotoGP's underdog tag
Aleix Espargaro became MotoGP's newest winner in a thrilling Argentina Grand Prix in which he also proved the merits of the Aprilia project. After six years of hard graft, both parties have reaped the rewards they have long thought they deserved. But it was several key moments in that journey that led both to that momentous Sunday at Termas de Rio Hondo.