Press Release | August 17, 2020
AUGUST 17, 2020 UPDATE
The Bol d’Or 2020 will not take place.
The Bol d’Or 2020, scheduled for September 19-20, will not take place. A new event, the 12 Hours of Estoril in Portugal, is scheduled for September 27 in its place.
Here is the complete press release from FIM EWC…
The local authority, Prefecture of Var has just withdrawn permission to welcome public to the race, scheduled for September 19-20. A new event, the 12 Hours of Estoril in Portugal, will take place on September 27 in its place.
The Bol d’Or2020, the proposed finale of the current FIM EWC season, was supposed to host Endurance fans at Le Castellet in the south of France on 19-20 September.
Following the strengthening of restrictions to stop Covid-19 in France, the local authority, Prefecture of Var, has withdrawn the authorization to welcome spectators to the event. This decision has forced Editions Larivière, the race organizer, to cancel the Bol d’Or 2020.
Finale at Estoril
The 2019-2020 FIM EWC Finale will instead take place in Portugal on the Estoril circuit on 27 September.
A 12-hour race is scheduled on this international circuit near Lisbon. It will close a sporting season particularly disrupted by the global health crisis. As the FIM EWC season final event, this 12-hour race will benefit from the bonus of 150% of the points in both EWC and Superstock categories, as well as intermediate points in the standings after eight hours of racing. The 4.182km Estoril circuit has hosted MotoGP and FIM Superbike World Championship events previously. Before this final event in Portugal, FIM EWC teams will race at Le Mans for the 24 Hours Motos on 29-30 August.
François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Event
“We support the decision of Editions Larivière to cancel the Bol d’Or 2020 within the context of stricter restrictions related to the health situation in France. We will return to this great event in September 2021. In order to protect the interests of the championship and teams, we have made every effort to replace this final race. We are pleased to announce and offer a new battle between teams at the Estoril circuit to close the 2019-2020 season.”
Jorge Viegas, President of the International Motorcycling Federation
“It is a huge disappointment that the iconic Bol d’Or has had to be cancelled due to the extension of the restrictions in France. I would like to warmly thank the Circuito Estoril, the Promoter Eurosport Events, the Portuguese Federation for the efforts made to prepare for this race with such short deadlines. A big thank you also to all the teams, the riders, the officials for their flexibility in adapting to these changes linked to the current health situation, and in the interest of the World Championship. I am very happy to see the FIM Endurance World Championship returning to Estoril for the race which will close the 2020 season.”
August 12, 2020 UPDATE
2020 Suzuka 8 Hours Called Off
Due to restrictions on entry in Japan for international riders, the Suzuka 8 Hours EWC grand finale has been called off.
This is a press release from FIM Endurance World Championship…
(August 12, 2020) — The 2020 Suzuka 8 Hours has been called off. As a result of stronger restrictions on entry in Japan, international teams and riders will not be able to travel to Suzuka. In agreement with FIM and Eurosport Events, the promoter of FIM Endurance World Championship, the Suzuka 8 Hours organizer Mobilityland has decided to cancel the 2020 edition.
Rescheduled for November 1 [from July, 2019] due to the global health crisis, the 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours will not take place in 2020. It is the first-ever cancellation since the creation of the race in 1978.
The Covid-19 pandemic remains a source of concern in Japan, and the government has decided not to lift its entry ban on international arrivals, even for business travelers. International riders and permanent teams have always been an integral part of the action at the Suzuka 8 Hours, which has become the grand finale of the FIM Endurance World Championship. In their absence, the grand finale would be a domestic race. As a result, Mobilityland has decided to cancel the 2020 edition.
Kaoru Tanaka, President Representative Director of Mobilityland Corporation: “We had been preparing for the ‘Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race’ to be held on November 1st together with all of the fans and stakeholders involved in this race event but, with anguish, we find no alternative but to make the decision to cancel it in consideration of the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan and overseas and the fact that there is no prospect of deregulation of immigration restrictions on visitors from abroad at this stage in Japan.
“Once again, we extend our apologies and regrets to all the fans who were looking forward to attending the Suzuka 8 Hours, which had been postponed from the originally scheduled date in July to November. We also extend our sincere regrets to all of the other stakeholders involved in this race event and we ask for everyone’s kind understanding and cooperation going forward.
“In closing, let us say that we are determined to make preparations so that the 2021 Suzuka 8 Hours event will be even more enjoyable for the fans than ever before.”
François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events: “We have been working hard with Mobilityland to reschedule the race from July to November—a first since 1978—and then to organize entry into Japan for international teams and riders with a special business visa. Our hopes have evaporated with immigration restrictions for foreigners. The cancellation of the 2020 Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours is not a question of spectators’ access. The decision was made not to run this iconic race as a domestic event. The Suzuka 8 Hours, the most prestigious endurance race in the world over the last 40 years, shall not run without top international riders.”
Jorge Viegas, President of the International Motorcycling Federation: “The cancellation of the iconic race of the Suzuka 8 Hours is really very sad news, but we must accept the Japanese government’s decision that takes into account the safety measures for the health of the population. In these difficult times, I want to thank all the efforts made by our promoter Eurosport Events, the organizer Mobilityland and MFJ. All the fans can be sure we will come back in 2021 with the best race ever!”
For more information, visit www.fimewc.com