One of the most exciting races in the Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) world calendar, the Malaysian GP, which was scheduled to be held from Oct 30 to Nov 1, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MotoGP governing bodies - the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), International Road-Racing Teams Association (IRTA) and Dorna Sports - announced in a joint statement today that apart from the race at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), they have also cancelled the Argentina and Thailand GPs.
The governing bodies, however, have added another GP in Europe (venue not decided yet) scheduled to take place from Nov 20-22, which will serve as the season finale, thus making the 2020 season fully raced in Europe.
The statement also pointed out that Dorna had begun working with the promoters of Argentina and Malaysian GPs to determine possible dates for the events in 2021, with plans in place to welcome fans back to the circuits, while an agreement had also been reached with the Chang Circuit in Buriram, Thailand to remain on the calendar until at least 2026.
SIC has been hosting MotoGP races since 1999, attracting over 100,000 fans over race weekends for the past few editions.
Dorna Sports chief executive officer Carmelo Ezpeleta lamented the cancellation of the three races, saying they would be very much missed this year as passionate fans would often travel across continents to catch the best two-wheel action in the world.
“The arrival of fans at Termas de Rio Hondo (Argentina), Buriram and Sepang is incredible, creating such an incredible atmosphere and welcome for the sport. We very much look forward to returning to Thailand, Argentina and Malaysia next year and, as always, I’d like to thank the fans for their patience and understanding,” she said.
Meanwhile, SIC CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif, while clearly disappointed with the cancellation of Malaysian GP for the first time in over 20 years, hopes to come back bigger and better in 2021.
“We were looking forward to watching our local boys - Kasma Daniel, Khairul Idham Pawi, Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah - and the Petronas Sepang Racing Team, who have had a great start to the season, in action on home ground. But with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of everyone is the main priority. We can’t afford to risk the health of others.
“I am sure this is sad news for fans in Malaysia and all over the world, who have made the event what it is today. We have seen an increasing number of spectators at the Malaysian GP year-on-year and we’d like to thank all our fans and partners for their continuous support.
“The best thing to do right now is to keep on supporting our local boys and team, who are still competing in the championship,” he said in a statement issued by SIC.
The Malaysian GP has been held in South-East Asia since 1991, the longest in the region, and the SIC has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since taking over from the Shah Alam Circuit and Johor Circuit in 1999.
The SIC is also one of the longest and most challenging circuits on the calendar and, no doubt, is one of the favourites among the riders and teams.
The 5.543km-long track has staged some all-time classic races over the years, providing fans with a unique experience on-and-off the track.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Jul 31 2020
The SIC is also one of the longest and most challenging circuits on the calendar and, no doubt, is one of the favourites among the riders and teams.
Sabah pantau kesan letusan Gunung Ruang, keselamatan rakyat diutamakan - Hajiji
Kerajaan Sabah akan memantau kesan letusan gunung berapi Gunung Ruang di Indonesia dan menegaskan bahawa keselamatan rakyat menjadi keutamaan.
AWANI Borneo [18/04/2024] – Letusan Gunung Ruang | AirAsia tawar perubahan penerbangan | Draf MoU bakal dirangka
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas dari Borneo bersama Jasmine Abu Bakar
#AWANIBorneo 12 April 2024
Letusan Gunung Ruang: MET Malaysia sahkan kualiti udara Sabah, Sarawak masih selamat
AirAsia kembali aktifkan beberapa penerbangan
Kerajaan secara dasar setuju salur peruntukan kepada wakil rakyat pembangkang.
#AWANInews
#AWANIBorneo 12 April 2024
Letusan Gunung Ruang: MET Malaysia sahkan kualiti udara Sabah, Sarawak masih selamat
AirAsia kembali aktifkan beberapa penerbangan
Kerajaan secara dasar setuju salur peruntukan kepada wakil rakyat pembangkang.
#AWANInews
18 projek tindakan atasi isu bekalan air
Kerajaan Sabah bertekad untuk terus menangani isu bekalan air di negeri itu selain memperkasa perkhidmatan sistem pembentungan.
Ratusan penumpang terkandas di KLIA
Tinjauan di Lapangan Terbang Kuala Lumpur (KLIA)Terminal 1 mendapati ratusan penumpang terkandas kerana tidak dapat menaiki penerbangan ke Sabah dan Sarawak.
Sheriff: Tayangan awal raih lebih RM1 juta
Filem arahan Syafiq Yusof, Sheriff telah meraih kutipan melebihi RM1 juta pada tayangan awal pada 17 April di pawagam.
Malaysia Airlines tawar pilihan kepada penumpang terjejas
Untuk meminimumkan kesulitan yang disebabkan oleh pembatalan yang tidak dijangka, Malaysia Airlines menawarkan pelanggan yang terjejas perubahan satu kali pada jadual perjalanan mereka secara percuma, atau memilih bayaran balik penuh tanpa mengira keluarga tambang mereka.
AirAsia sediakan pilihan kepada penumpang
AirAsia akan menyediakan pilihan kepada penumpang yang penerbangannya dibatalkan akibat letusan Gunung Ruang di Kepulauan Sulawesi Indonesia.
Kualiti udara Sabah, Sarawak masih selamat - MET Malaysia
Impak letusan Gunung Berapi Ruang di Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia setakat ini masih belum menjejaskan kualiti udara permukaan di Sabah dan Sarawak.
Jabatan Metereologi Malaysia (MET Malaysia) dalam satu kenyataan pada Khamis berkata, letusan tersebut, yang berketinggian 725 meter dari paras laut, bagaimanapun telah menjejaskan operasi penerbangan di dua negeri tersebut.
Jabatan Metereologi Malaysia (MET Malaysia) dalam satu kenyataan pada Khamis berkata, letusan tersebut, yang berketinggian 725 meter dari paras laut, bagaimanapun telah menjejaskan operasi penerbangan di dua negeri tersebut.
Stoking kalimah Allah: Wai Loong dituduh semula, mengaku tidak salah
Lelaki yang membuat kenyataan jelik berhubung isu stoking dengan kalimah Allah, dituduh sekali lagi, atas satu pertuduhan yang sama.
Bunuh jurutol wanita: Bekas mekanik terlepas hukuman mati, digantikan penjara 35 tahun
Seorang bekas mekanik terlepas daripada tali gantung selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan menggantikan hukuman mati yang dijatuhkan terhadapnya dengan penjara 35 tahun dan 12 sebatan.
Warga Venezuela di Argentina protes tuntut pilihan raya bebas
Puluhan migran Venezuela yang menetap di Argentina berarak di Buenos Aires bagi menyuarakan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap Presiden Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro serta menuntut pilihan raya bebas.
Saya telah menang semuanya - Messi
Messi sudah berjaya menjulang pelbagai trofi sepanjang kariernya dan mengakui sudah rasa cukup dengan pencapaian yang diraihnya itu.
Hujan lebat berterusan, Buenos Aires keluar amaran tahap oren
Perkhidmatan Meteorologi Kebangsaan (SMN) mengeluarkan amaran pada tahap oren berikutan ribut akibat hujan lebat di kawasan metropolitan Buenos Aires pada Rabu.
Argentina terpaksa lupakan Messi
Messi telah diketepikan daripada skuad Argentina untuk perlawanan persahabatan yang akan datang di Amerika Syarikat kerana kecederaan hamstring, kata Persatuan Bola Sepak Argentina.
Empat pemain kelab Velez Sarsfield berdepan tuduhan serangan seksual
Empat pemain kelab bola sepak Argentina, Velez Sarsfield ditahan atas perintah mahkamah Argentina selepas dituduh melakukan serangan seksual pada Isnin.
Penampakan 'UFO' di Argentina
Sebuah rakaman memaparkan objek aneh berbentuk bulat berlegar-legar di wilayah Tucuman, Argentina mencetuskan tanda tanya.
Kemiskinan di Argentina cecah paras tertinggi 57.4 peratus - Kajian
Tahap kemiskinan itu merupakan yang tertinggi pernah dicapai Argentina dalam tempoh sekurang-kurangnya 20 tahun.
Kelayakan Olimpik: Brazil kandas, tidak layak ke Paris 2024
Brazil gagal melayakkan diri ke kejohanan bola sepak Olimpik lelaki selepas tewas 1-0 kepada Argentina.
Kerajaan, pemimpin Amerika Latin ucap takziah pemergian Sebastian Pinera
Kerajaan dan para pemimpin di seluruh Amerika Latin menzahirkan ucapan takziah atas kematian bekas Presiden Chile, Sebastian Pinera dalam nahas helikopter.
Tunjuk perasaan di Argentina protes lawatan Presiden Javier Milei ke Israel
Dianggarkan ratusan peserta tunjuk perasaaan berkumpul di luar premis Kementerian Luar Negeri Argentina untuk menyuarakan protes terhadap lawatan Presiden Javier Milei ke Israel pada Isnin.