Covid Restrictions most likely to go away from French MotoGP

Only if Italy agrees to the same criteria in Mugello will organisers lift limitations. COVID-19 limitations are being eased by governments all across the world, but each region is progressing at its own pace. As a result, different norms will apply to tourists. While this may not be an issue for one-time visitors, the numerous regulations cause problems for the MotoGP paddock.

MotoGP organiser Dorna has previously requested that all competitors “wear a mask indoors at all times.” Officials requested negative PCR testing for paddock entry prior to the European part of the 2022 season. Visitors attending the Spanish Grand Prix were still required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result, although Dorna hopes to ease those requirements.

All indications lead to MotoGP abandoning COVID-19 criteria entirely, but officials want to reassure teams and participants that the new standards will be maintained throughout the European rounds. “We’re still negotiating with Mugello to open up and remove all restrictions.” If that succeeds, we won’t need to ask for a Le Mans vaccination certificate. But, because of Mugello, it makes no sense to open the paddock to France and then go back to the existing measures,” a Dorna official told Speedweek. “For Le Mans, we intend to remove all Covid measures and retain this approach until the overseas races in October.”

Many avid MotoGP fans are aware that the championship schedule will shift to Asia on September 25, 2022, with the Japanese Grand Prix. The series will next go to Thailand, Australia, and Malaysia before returning to Europe for the season’s final round. The Asian, Oceanic, and Southeast Asian countries, like the European rounds, have differing COVID-19 requirements.

There’s no way of knowing if Dorna will have to go back to scrutinising immunisation certificates or requiring negative PCR testing for paddock access, but the series hopes to keep uniform standards for as long as possible. For the Le Mans event, France has already abolished its COVID-19 requirements, but Dorna officials are still waiting for confirmation from Italian authorities regarding the Italian Grand Prix on May 27.