Austin MotoGP race postponed, Daytona 200 going ahead

[advrider]

The shuffle continues! A few days into 2021, MotoGP organizers are already shuffling the schedule again, with the Austin, Texas race now “postponed,” along with the Argentinian race. Meanwhile, organizers say this year’s Daytona 200 motorcycle race will go ahead.

It’s bad news for the Circuit of the Americas, which sees its spring MotoGP event canceled for the second year in a row. Back in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to postpone the event as city politicians declared a “local disaster.” At that time, the official story said the race would be re-scheduled for later in the year, but that never happened. In July, organizers officially called it off, saying tickets would be honoured in 2021.

Well, we’re seeing the same thing again. MotoGP officials have juggled the schedule, and as part of that rescheduling, MotoGP says “The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns and complications sadly oblige the postponement of both the Argentina GP and the Americas GP until the last quarter of 2021.” We’ve heard that before, and don’t be surprised if that means there’s no MotoGP race in the US again this year, especially when you notice the press release says Indonesia’s new Mandalika International Street Circuit is “being placed as a reserve Grand Prix venue, subject to homologation.” MotoGP organizers may decide it’s just easiest to avoid any travel to the Americas this year.

As for the Daytona 200: It seems Bike Week celebrations are kinda-sorta a go for 2021, with the town issuing licences. Supercross is already selling tickets for the March 6 race, and there’s an AMA flat track doubleheader on the schedule for March 12-13 (no word on whether fans can attend, at this point). And now, the Daytona 200 is also confirmed as a go, on March 13. For entry forms and other details, head over to the American Sportbike Racing (ASRA) website.

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