PHILLIP ISLAND MOTOGP DOUBT


Phillip Island MotoGP doubt – Photo: LAT
Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix organisers will make a call on the Phillip Island MotoGP by late July – if not sooner.
By MARK FOGARTY
Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott is adamant no decision has been made to call off the event despite border restriction uncertainties.
“The status of the race is we are gazetted for that October 25 date and that hasn’t changed,” Westacott declared in an exclusive interview with AUTO ACTION.
He nominated “three to four months” beforehand as the cut-off, meaning a decision as soon as late June or no later than late July.
The Victoria government-backed AGPC stages the Formula 1 Australian GP at Albert Park in Melbourne and the motorcycle racing equivalent at Phillip Island.
Last month’s F1 AGP was cancelled because of the onset of the coronavirus crisis, triggering the worldwide shutdown of motorsport.
The Phillip Island MotoGP remains in doubt because MotoGP’s is in flux because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phillip Island is still listed on the reduced MotoGP calendar, currently scheduled to begin with the German GP on June 21.
However, if border restrictions or 14-day quarantine requirements are still in place in the next few months, the Australian event will not be possible, even without spectators.
While Westacott refuted speculation that a decision had been made to call off the Phillip Island event, he admitted government health directives would determine its fate.
“We talk every couple of weeks to (MotoGP promoter) Dorna,” he said. “We will be totally dictated by the restrictions authorities are talking about in terms of mass gatherings, attendance without crowds, visitation and border controls, restrictions and quarantine periods.”
Westcott stressed that the fate of this year’s Phillip Island MotoGP was in the hands of health authorities, with a decision needed by the end of July at the latest.
“In talking to Dorna and government – and I stress in very general terms – it’s about being practical and sensible in these scenarios,” he said. “So I think, realistically, you’re talking a three- or four-month lead time.
“But I stress it is very much determined by the health, well-bring and evolving situation that will be determined by the medical officials and government rather than the willingness of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.”
While Westacott emphasised that cancelling the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix hadn’t been discussed, he confirmed tickets weren’t on sale due to the uncertainty.
“I haven’t ever personally used the words, nor has our board, of close to calling off, but we’re realistic,” Westacott said. “We’re not on sale in any active manner for MotoGP because the ability [at this stage] for people to travel across borders and to enjoy time off is going to be unlikely.
“So we haven’t talked about the close-to-calling-it-off scenario, but we’re being prudent and considerate about what the likelihood is going to be.”
Westacott talks exclusively at length about the ramifications and costs of the F1 AGP cancellation in this week’s AUTO ACTION, on sale this Thursday.
The digital edition will be available online on Wednesday evening.
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