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How cancelled races stand to impact MotoGP's 2020 title fight

The global threat of coronavirus has put the 2020 MotoGP season opener in Qatar on ice, owing to the country's travel restrictions. With at least a month before the season gets going, some of the championship's contenders might be afforded more time to iron out their new machinery

Lewis Duncan Mar 2, 2020, 2:37 PM

The inevitable has happened; the threat of coronavirus has now claimed the first two MotoGP rounds of the 2020 season.

Though series promoter Dorna Sports had put a contingency plan in place to allow those travelling from major outbreak zones in Italy and Japan to enter Qatar more smoothly, the ever-changing situation that the emergence of COVID-19 has brought meant the Qatari government had to take further action.

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.