Le coronavirus strikes again. And it was in Italy that it accentuated its effect. Already, last weekend, the authorities of the peninsula had struck hard by placing a large part of the north of the country under close surveillance. But it was just an appetizer. Because this time, travel is strictly limited throughout the country. All national sporting events, including the football championship, are suspended for at least three weeks. A real earthquake which inevitably shakes the bike and obviously complicates the organization of a MotoGP championship…
Until then, the priority was to bring the paddock to a site allowing access for a meeting. Today, with this latest measure fromItaly, we will have to think about how to get the Italians out of their country to join the same paddock... A mission that can unfortunately be described as impossible.
Concretely, from this Tuesday, travel will be strictly limited throughout the country. All national sporting events, including the football championship, are suspended for at least three weeks. To understand the magnitude of this decision, you must know that in 1973, the cholera epidemic which caused 227 deaths in the country, including more than 170 in Naples, had not even stopped “calcio”. Until today, only the two world wars had stopped it... That's saying something!
« There is no more time to lose ", declared the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Monday March 9. Italy is the country in Europe most affected by the coronavirus and the second in the world with more than 9 cases including 000 deaths. A decree therefore extends to the entire territory the exceptional containment measures which have applied since Sunday to millions of Italians living in the north. These restrictions are valid until 3th April. Mr. Conte called on all residents to “ avoid travels" on the national territory to stem the coronavirus epidemic, and ordered a " ban on gatherings ».
« I am going to sign a decree which can be summarized as follows: “I am staying at home”. There will no longer be a “red zone on the peninsula” (…) The whole of Italy will become a protected area “, he said before the promulgation of the decree.
In recent days, Italian athletes have participated in an awareness campaign on keeping your distance so as not to be an unwitting player in the spread of Covid-19. Andrea Dovizioso, in particular was there.
However, the movement of people is prohibited except for proven reasons of health, necessity or work. “ I am fully aware of the seriousness and responsibility ", has explained Tale. " We cannot afford to let our guard down. It’s time for accountability. The right decision is to stay at home. Our future is in our handsns. » A serious tone if ever there was one.
The decision to leave Italy or not to attend a meeting outside Italy no longer belongs to Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso and others. The borders are closed. To be clear: even if Carmelo Ezpeleta decides to run a Grand Prix behind closed doors, or to move it from one circuit to another, as is believed between Austin and Indianapolis, he will not be able to do anything if a nation prohibits its nationals from going there…
