'Logistical challenges' - Opening practice cancelled for Japanese MotoGP

The planned return of the Japanese MotoGP isn’t scheduled until September but ‘logistical challenges’ mean a schedule change has already been announced.

Peter McLaren

23 Jun 2022

Twin Ring Motegi circuit, Japanese MotoGP

The Motegi round, off the calendar since 2020 due to Covid restrictions, is due to take place the weekend after Aragon.

However, ‘Due to the logistical challenges posed by the Grand Prix being staged back-to-back with the Grand Prix of Aragon, as well as potential delays caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its effect on airspace, it has been decided to not run practice sessions for the Grand Prix classes – MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 – on Friday morning’.

Instead, an extended single free practice session (from 45 to 75 minutes in the case of MotoGP) will be held for each grand prix class on Friday afternoon.

The combined results for entry into Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2 will be taken from FP1 and FP2 for all classes.

Earlier this season, freight delays caused the cancellation of Friday practice for the Argentine Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo.

While there have been whispers that this year's Japanese event might yet join Finland in being postponed until 2023, at present it remains listed for September 23-25, sandwiched between Aragon and Thailand (the weekend after).