After the 24 Heures Motos was postponed to the end of August, it is now the turn of the 8 Hours of Oschersleben, in Germany, to bear the brunt of the health crisis. The event is canceled and will therefore not be contested this year.
However, the announcement ofa lockdown in Japan is planned in the days, if not in the hours to come. Other modifications may therefore occur, concerning the Suzuka 8H.
Here are the explanations from the organizer of the Eurosport Events Championship and a statement from the President of the FIM.
Faced with the unprecedented situation of global health crisis, the FIM EWC Endurance World Championship is adapting the structure of its calendar and protecting its teams.
Eurosport Events, promoter of the championship, in agreement with the FIM – Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, has revised the FIM EWC calendar taking into account the applicable government restrictions.
In the context of current confinement, restrictions on gatherings and limitations on the movement of people, the conditions are not met to organize the 8 Hours of Oschersleben, a race scheduled for June 6 in Germany. The event is canceled and will not be postponed. Listed on the World Endurance Championship calendar since 1999, this major event has quickly become an unmissable event for the discipline in Germany.
The 2019-2020 FIM EWC World Championship will therefore resume on July 19 in Japan with the Suzuka 8 Hours for the Formula EWC category then the EWC and Superstock teams will meet in France for the 24 Heures Motos on August 29 and 30, 2020.
The FIM and Eurosport Events have decided to register the 2020 Bol d'Or as the fifth event and final of the current season. After starting at Le Castellet in September 2019, the 2019-2020 FIM EWC World Championship will seal its world rankings at the Bol d'Or on September 19 and 20.
The FIM, Eurosport Events and the organizers of the FIM EWC events, aware of the current difficulties encountered by the teams, are doing everything possible to offer cost reduction solutions and support to those involved in the championship.
The 24 Heures Motos and Bol d'Or pre-tests will be canceled but the free practice sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday will be extended to give the teams more running time.
To help private teams, Eurosport Events will compensate all non-official motorcycles that participated in the 24 Heures Motos and the Bol d'Or, up to €1500 per motorcycle.
Questions for François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events:
What priorities led you to reform the calendar?
“The world is going through a real tragedy which is having unprecedented repercussions on societies and on all forms of gatherings of people. There is a lot of suffering. The world of sport has been hit violently by confinement. There cannot be races without safety conditions for the teams and drivers, and the current health situation clearly does not allow the holding of the 8 Hours of Oschersleben 2020. This event will return to the 2021 calendar from May 20 to 23 . After repositioning the 24 Heures Motos at the end of August, we proposed to all those involved in the championship to end the season at the Bol d'Or with a great race. Following a long confinement and so much frustration from motorcycle enthusiasts, I am certain that the ACO and Éditions Larivière will be able to organize two major popular festivals in Le Mans and Le Castellet. This reshuffling of the calendar therefore means that the Suzuka 8 Hours will no longer be the final of the world championship. Mobilityland, the organizer of this huge race, understands the situation and shares our priority of protecting the interests of Endurance in such special circumstances. Next season will therefore start at Sepang and end at the Bol d'Or. »
The Suzuka 8 Hours race will therefore no longer be the FIM EWC final. What consequences for the championship?
“We are monitoring with the organizer of the Suzuka 8 Hours the question of access for non-Japanese teams and drivers to this race in the context of a possible rebound of Covid-19 on the archipelago. »
“The event will no longer be the championship final, so as such will no longer benefit from the 150% points bonus. »
Will the TV broadcast of the FIM EWC be disrupted by the Covid-19 crisis?
“The postponement of sporting events beyond the summer inevitably creates a congestion of programs on the schedules of television channels. Eurosport Events is a promoter that produces the TV signal of the races, broadcasts it and distributes it beyond Eurosport. We will do our best to ensure the best distribution possible. »
Faced with the budgetary difficulties caused by the global crisis, how is Eurosport Events able to support the teams?
“We are working hand in hand with the ACO and Éditions Larivière to help reduce costs for the teams. The financial assistance that we provide for Bol d'Or entries goes to the private teams, the most fragile, who must be supported in these difficult times. »
FIM President Jorge Viegas concluded by declaring : “We are living in an exceptional moment that requires us to take measures that we never imagined we would have to take. The most important thing is to firmly maintain our desire to return to motorcycle racing and resume the FIM Endurance World Championship as soon as possible. We are working hand in hand with Eurosport Events, this new structure will make it possible to have a championship worthy of the name and to meet the expectations of all those who love this spectacular discipline! »
