IT’S a sad day for fans hoping to enjoy the sight, sound, and smell of MotoGP bikes at Portimao as the Portuguese PM has confirmed the event will – if indeed it happens – be held behind closed doors.
The plan was for 30,000 fans to be allowed into the circuit to enjoy the MotoGP grid taking on one of Europe’s most spectacular motorcycle racing venues.
Like much of Europe, Portugal is currently doing its best to prevent the spread of COVID-19, although a quote from the PM points the finger of blame at F1 fans last month.
For the first F1 race at the venue, a similar number of fans were allowed into the circuit to enjoy Hamilton and Co. taking on the twists and turns of the track. From the footage of the race, and the comments of the PM, it seems that social distancing was not a top priority!
What happened at the [F1] Grand Prix is unacceptable and cannot be repeated,” Reuters quotes Prime Minister Antonio Costa as saying.
“We have already told the organisers that the MotoGP race will be held without an audience because our inability to organise events of this scale with spectators has been revealed.”
Despite many European countries looking like they are heading into further lockdown restrictions, MotoGP and Dorna are confident they can finish this topsy-turvy 2020 MotoGP.
