Mondello Park cancels dates for 2020 Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship

In a statement on Thursday, the organisers said if any motorcycle racing was able to go ahead at the Co Kildare circuit this year, it would take place behind closed doors.

The statement said: ‘As the Covid-19 restrictions continue Mondello Park has taken the difficult decision to cancel all of the dates originally set for the 2020 Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship. Hopes remain that some Motorcycle races can be run at the track before the end of 2020 but any events that do run will not be on their original dates.

‘Mondello Park is currently preparing to re-open under the terms of the government’s five phase plan to ease restrictions, with events set to take place behind closed doors initially. Car, Rallycross and Rallysprint events have been rescheduled with social distancing measures and new event regulations in place, but the very different requirements of Motorcycle Racing mean that the return of two wheeled sport will take a little longer.

‘Mondello Park's management team are currently working with all of the stakeholders involved in Motorcycle Racing including, Motorcycling Ireland, event Medical teams and Marshals organisations, to find ways to overcome the issues, with a view to getting Motorcycle Racing back up and running as soon as possible’.

The statement added that the Masters Superbike Championship would be replaced by a shorter season if motorcycle racing gets the green light later this year.

‘If a way can be found to get the sport back up and running this year, the normal Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship will be replaced by a shorter season, the format of which will be released once the number of events is known.

‘Like with Car race events, if some motorcycle racing does take place it will be behind closed doors and will be run under stringent social distancing restrictions with significantly different event regulations.

‘No decision will be made on the return of Motorcycle Racing to Mondello Park until at least the beginning of phase four of the government's planned reopening, currently scheduled for July 20th, which is the point at which travel restrictions will be relaxed.

‘Further information on the 2020 Mondello Park calendar will be released in due course’.