Almost all sorts of motorsports around the world have been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. It was only a matter of time before the concerned authorities announced the cancellation of this year’s Isle of Man TT.
The latest updates reveal that the 2020 Isle of Man TT, that was originally scheduled to take place between 30 May and 13 June 2020, has been cancelled due to Coronavirus spread. This is only the second time in the history of this motorsport when it has been cancelled. This first time was in 2001 due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
It is indeed a bummer seeing one of the most thrilling road-racing motorsports getting cancelled. But considering the fact that the event attracts a plethora of tourists from various parts of the world to the island, going ahead with the season could pose a serious threat to global health. Perhaps, cancelling the season was the best decision after all.
Also Read: Ducati closes production lines until 25 March due to Coronavirus
“The decision to cancel has not been taken lightly, and all options including postponement and delaying the decision have been considered in detail. Representatives from the Isle of Man Government will now discuss the implications with all relevant businesses, stakeholders and individuals affected by this cancellation, which it recognises will be significant,” said Laurence Skelly MHK, who is the IOM Minister for Enterprise.
‘With the visitor restriction in place for the foreseeable future, we wanted to make the decision now to give businesses, visitors and all involved stakeholders time to manage the impact going forward. The Isle of Man, and the Isle of Man TT, are faced with unique challenges regarding COVID-19 and making this decision will provide certainty to teams, competitors, sponsors and stakeholders of the event and to visitors across the globe.”
“The decision also aims to provide reassurance for our residents and healthcare professionals that the health and well-being of the Isle of Man’s residents is the single biggest priority and focus of this Government.”
