MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram

[buksida]

Thailand MotoGP safe to go ahead after coronavirus check
The Thailand MotoGP will go ahead in March after the country's government decided "there is no major risk" from coronavirus, the race organisers said on Thursday.

"With the outbreak of coronavirus affecting a number of locations and events worldwide, the decision required official consideration as the situation in Thailand was monitored," organisers of the race in Buri Ram on March 22 said in a statement.

It added that the Thai authorities had decided "that there is no major risk, with the country having infected patients under care and strict preventive measures in place - resulting in the highest rate of fully recovered patients worldwide."

More than 2,100 people have died from the virus, most of them in China, where a raft of sports tournaments have been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks.

They include the Chinese Formula Grand Prix, scheduled for Shanghai on April 19, which was axed while the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing have been put back to 2021.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/1862 ... irus-check

[buksida]

Buri Ram MotoGP to 'rejuvenate' tourism
Next month's motorcycle grand prix in Buriram is being promoted as the saviour of the flagging tourism sector, hyped to woo people back to Thailand despite the coronavirus epidemic.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday the OR Thailand Grand Prix 2020 will not be cancelled, it will instead showcase Thailand's readiness to welcome back tourists.

"We have the potential to attract tourists to return to Thailand," the minster said at a countdown promotion for the three-day event.

The race is scheduled for March 20-22 at Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/1867 ... te-tourism

[J.J.B.]

I’m certainly no expert in MotoGP but is it normal to hold the 2019 race in Thailand in October and run the 2020 in March? Irrespective of Wuflu risks, it strikes me as an odd timetabling choice.

[buksida]

Thailand is new to the MotoGP lineup so I'm guessing the change was nothing to do with what the country wanted.

[Gregjam]

The timing was announced a year in advance and was probably aimed at avoiding the rainy season. I think that most MotoGP fans prefer dry races as unlike F1 where a wet race helps relieve the tedium with cars spinning out and rejoining, when a rider comes off in the wet they are unlikely to be able to resume racing plus it is much more dangerous for the riders.
Had I been in Thailand this month I would have been tempted to go apart from being put off by the unavailability of rooms at reasonable prices and now Covid 19 precautions. Cancelling the event has all sorts of financial effects but it would be reasonable to assume that attendance will be down.
Whether it is a good decision or not to go ahead with the event is difficult to predict. I will be following whatever happens with interest.

[hhinner]

If the government bans public gatherings (e.g. student protests) using covid-19 as the reason then how could the MotoGP possibly go ahead?

[PeteC]

Let's see how Thailand reacts, perhaps just ban the Italian's?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/51698839


....."The opening race of the MotoGP season in Qatar on 8 March has been cancelled as a result of travel restrictions imposed on passengers from Italy because of coronavirus.

Six of the riders in MotoGP's premier class are Italians and some teams are based in the country.".......

[Felipesed1]

Actually it is only the MotoGP class that has been cancelled. The Moto2 & Moto3 classes (and the Asian Cup) will go ahead because the teams are already in Qatar for testing.
Personally I think Qatar is not a good place to go, the track gets covered in sand, there is no history of racing in the country and very few spectators, there is a problem with dew formation on the track, and the MotoGP clase races under floodlights.

Apparently the licensing fee from the organisers pays the teams' travel costs for the rest of the season, that is the only reason it is on the calendar.

[hhinner]

BBC just reported Thai MotoGP cancelled, though it's not on the website yet.

[PeteC]

BBC just reported Thai MotoGP cancelled, though it's not on the website yet.

Yes, the Bangkok Post has it now, saying it's postponed to a later date.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/1869 ... rus-anutin

Edit: "later date" has now changed to "indefinitely" in the updated article above.

[PeteC]

Thailand MotoGP rescheduled for October

https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/1872 ... or-october

The Thailand MotoGP that was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak has been rescheduled for Oct 3-4, organisers said on Thursday.

The date change means that the Aragon Grand Prix in Spain will be brought forward a week to Sept 27.

"MotoGP will now head to the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of October," motogp.com announced..............

[buksida]

278843206_358781162951367_3511347240085862038_n.jpg (189.69 KiB) Viewed 917 times

Accommodation already full and being price hiked according to TV commentators on Sunday's race. Tickets also likely to be a sting so the Malaysia GP will be a better option again if there is a flight to KL out of Hua Hin.

[Per Lund]

I’m going to Thailand in September. Will probably be in Hua Hin in the end of the month.
Is there any sports bar in Hua Hin to watch Thailand GP live?


Skickat från min iPhone med Tapatalk

[PeteC]

I’m going to Thailand in September. Will probably be in Hua Hin in the end of the month.
Is there any sports bar in Hua Hin to watch Thailand GP live?

No takers on this one, probably because of 2 years of bar closures due to Covid, and unsure now as they are open again who is offering what, live. Perhaps someone will come forward over the weekend.

[stretch]

You will have no trouble finding it on somewere its a big thing in Thailand.