Assen WorldSBK round rescheduled as more postponements expected
FIM and Dorna confirm the upcoming Assen WorldSBK round has been rescheduled for a new date in August but several other rounds remain uncertain
The fourth round of the 2020 WorldSBK Championship at Assen has been moved to a new date in August after becoming the latest motorsport event to be rescheduled in the wake of the coronavirus.
The Dutch event had been inserted as the second round of the season – after the already completed opener at Phillip Island – due to Qatar and Jerez being rescheduled in an announcement earlier this month.
However, with a number of European nations introducing stricter measures to counter the spread of COVID-19, the Assen event scheduled for 17-19 April has now been moved to an August 21-23 date.
The announcement comes as no surprise as motorsport braces for the prospect of no action taking place until June or July at the earliest.
Round ‘five’ at Imola is scheduled for 8-10 May but is unable to take place under the current measures, nor would the following Motorland Aragon round on 22-24 May or the Misano event on 13-14 June. The FIM governing body says it is working hard to rearrange the calendar, rather than cancel rounds.
“FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization are continuously working with Circuits and Government Officials following up the situation in each country and will inform accordingly if there are further changes to the 2020 Calendar.”
Indeed, the Donington Park WorldSBK round on 4-6 July could also find itself under threat following the announcement by Motorsport UK – which governs four-wheel motorsport – announced a racing ban until the 30 June, a measure that will likely taken by the national two-wheel governing bodies.
Moreover, it appears increasingly unlikely the three MotoGP rounds currently scheduled for May – Jerez, Le Mans and Mugello – will also be postponed or cancelled over the next few days.
