The 2020 Isle of Man TT has been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The number of confirmed cases across the United Kingdom has surpassed 1500 with the worldwide total now at over 180,000. The pandemic has severely affected the sporting world, with forcing numerous championships into postponement such as Formula 1, MotoGP, and the World Endurance Championship.
Preceding the announcement, the Isle of Man government said preparations for the event were underway, with the race due to be held from May 30 to June 13. However, given the situation surrounding the virus worsening, the decision was made to cancel the 2020 event.
Laurence Skelly, Minister for Enterprise, commented: “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. 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.”
