MotoGp opening race of season in Qatar cancelled due to coronavirus travel restrictions

The opening race of the MotoGP season, which was scheduled to take place in Qatar from the 6th to the 8th of March, has been cancelled on Sunday due to travel restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

With immediate effect, passengers arriving in Doha on direct flights from Italy, or those having been in Italy in the last two weeks, will be taken into quarantine for 14 days.

That would impact several teams and riders and led organisers to cancel practice, qualifying and the race itself.

A statement on the official MotoGP website read: "As the teams and riders of the Moto2 and Moto3 classes were already in Qatar for the three-day official test at Losail International Circuit earlier this week, the races of both categories will be possible."

(Pic Credit: Pixabay)