Prague (AFP)

The Grand Prix of the Czech Republic, counting towards the MotoGP World Championship, will take place behind closed doors on August 9, due to the risks linked to the coronavirus, its organizers announced Friday.

Scheduled on the Brno circuit, this race will be the third of the season after two rounds in Spain, also behind closed doors, at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit where MotoGP is due to resume on July 19.

"Despite all our efforts, this year's race will take place without public for security reasons", regretted the regional government, based in Brno, in a statement where it specifies that the tickets already bought for this year will still be valid. next year.

The MotoGP season should have started on March 8 in Qatar, before the global development of the Covid-19 pandemic, which the Czech Republic has handled rather well: 350 dead for 12,000 confirmed cases.

But the Czech health authorities have no intention of lowering their guard, as a resumption of the virus, with new cases, seems to be looming in the northeast of the country.

© 2020 AFP