2020 MXGP | Turkey & Russia Rounds Cancelled, Additional Race Added In Italy
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There was a part of Jeffrey Herlings’ post-race podium interview from the 2020 MXGP of Kegums-Latvia that we thought was odd. After winning the overall at the third of three races at Zelta Zirgs, the Red Bull KTM rider quipped that he’d, “try to be better for the next round, whenever that may be.” At the time the next race in the 2020 Monster Energy FIM Motocross World Championship was supposed to be the 2020 MXGP of Turkey at Afyon on September 6. A quick message to our friend Lewis Phillips of MX Vice revealed that the race had been scrapped and that there would be a new schedule released on Wednesday. This proved to be true, as InFront Moto Group announced on Wednesday that the MXGP of Turkey and the MXGP of Russia had been canceled for 2020, but that additional round in Italy had been added to fill the void.
The loss of races in Turkey and Russia is unfortunate for the MXGP series, as those two stops are very important to the InFront Moto Group’s push to spread MX into untapped massive markets, but this is to be expected given the current situation around the world.
Instead, the series will now have its second of three triple-header events, thanks to the additional round in Faenza, Italy. The three races at the Italian circuit will be the 2020 MXGP of Italy on September 5-6 (Saturday-Sunday), the 2020 MXGP of Città di Faenza on September 8-9 (Tuesday-Wednesday), and the 2020 MXGP of Emilia Romagna on September 12-13 (Saturday-Sunday). The rounds at Faenza will be supported by the EMX125 and EMX2T classes, part of the EMX championship.
Having more races in Italy will be a help to all in the paddock, as it will limit the logistics of moving rigs and infrastructure from one place to another, a much-needed relief given the travel restrictions and financial concerns that have come with the pandemic.
There is still one TBC on the calendar. The series organizers hope that the 2020 MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina can run at some point in November but openly stated that it all depends on the ongoing national conditions.
Below is the updated calendar and the full press release from InFront Moto Group…
Following the big success of the Latvian stops of MXGP and the support received, MXGP continues to look forward to more epic races this season and therefore Infront Moto Racing would like to reveal the most recent updates to the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship racing calendar.
Following the evolution of COVID-19 restrictions and the difficulty of travel, the decision has been made to postpone to 2021 the MXGP of Turkey in Afyonkarahisar, originally scheduled on the 5-6th of September, while also the TBC events scheduled this season, the MXGP of Portugal that originally was going to take place in Agueda as well as the MXGP of Russia, scheduled in Orlyonok, have been also postponed to 2021.
Instead, following the success of the Latvian triple-header, the FIM Motocross World Championship will anticipate the event in Faenza, Italy, for three epic Grand Prix races with the MXGP of Italy on the 5-6th of September, the MXGP of Città di Faenza on the 8-9th September and the MXGP of Emilia Romagna on 12-13th September. The events in Faenza will also be joined by the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing and EMX 2t Presented by FMF Racing Championship.
Additionally, MXGP will head to Mantova in Italy for another trio of races, for the MXGP of Lombardia taking place on the 26-27th of September, the MXGP of Città di Mantova on the 29-30th of September and finally the MXGP of Europe on the 3-4th of October. The first two races in Mantova will additionally see rounds of the EMX250 and WMX Championships, while the MXGP of Europe will also welcome the EMX125 and EMX250 riders.
Further changes will then see MXGP head to Pietramurata, for the MXGP of Trentino, scheduled for the 31st-1st November, then the MXGP of Pietramurata on the 3-4th of November and finally the MXGP of Garda Trentino will finish off the Italian stint on the 7-8th of November. The additional classes that will join MXGP in Pietramurata will be the EMX Open and WMX riders for the first race, while during the final two events it will be EMX Open and EMX 2t.
The 2020 calendar will now feature three triple-headers in Italy. This decision has been made in order to be able to hold the maximum number of events possible to make a competitive and thrilling championship, as well as to reduce the amount of travel complications for the whole paddock collective.
Furthermore, the MXGP of Lommel, last of the three Belgian stops, on the 24-25th of October, will also see the Yamaha YZ bLU CRU Superfinale, that will welcome some up and coming motocross stars of tomorrow, to the fierce Lommel circuit in Belgium. Last year’s final saw Jekabs Kubulins take a victory in the 65cc class, while in 85cc it was Olle Martensson and finally in 125cc it was Mairis Pumpurs who was the winner.
The MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina, in Neuquen, remains part of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar as TBC depending on the ongoing national conditions.
Infront Moto Racing along with the FIM, the local organisers and the National Federations, continue with the goal of presenting a great championship in these difficult circumstances and are excited to welcome back more FIM Motocross World Championship action!
