Paris (AFP)

The French Motorcycle Grand Prix, originally scheduled from May 15 to 17 at Le Mans, has been postponed to a date yet to be determined due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organizers announced on Thursday.

"The situation is constantly changing, new dates for the GP of France and the GP of Spain (which was to be held from May 1 to 3 in Jerez, Andalusia, editor's note), recently postponed, cannot be confirmed until we will not know exactly when it will be possible to organize these events ", specify the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and MotoGP. "A revised schedule will be published as soon as available."

"Our hope is to improve the health situation in the world to envisage the organization of the SHARK Helmets Grand Prix of France on the Le Mans circuit with the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest, editor's note), in agreement with the government and sports authorities, "says French promoter Claude Michy in another press release. "But to date, the situation is constantly changing, it is not possible to set a date for postponement."

The four previous Grand Prix have already been canceled (Qatar in the MotoGP category only) or postponed to the second half of the season (Thailand, Americas and Argentina in MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3).

To do this, the championship was extended from November 15 to 29 and must end with not one, as planned, but two blocks of three races in three weeks, interspersed with a weekend of rest.

The next MotoGP race is the Italian GP at Mugello, northeast of Florence from May 29 to 31.

In France, the population has been confined since March 17 and for the time being until April 15, pending a very probable extension. There are more than 4,000 dead in a month in the hospital, before knowing the figures in retirement homes.

In France, several other major motorsport events had already been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the legendary final of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), has been postponed from June 13 and 14 to September 19 and 20. The 24 Hours Motos, still at Le Mans, will be held on August 29 and 30 instead of April 18 and 19. The Formula E Paris ePrix, also scheduled for April 18, did not take place.

The next major international race planned is the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France at Le Castellet (Var) from June 26 to 28.

© 2020 AFP