Macau’s Sports Bureau President Pun Weng Kun has stated that the 2020 Macau Grand Prix may possibly be cancelled. Many riders coming from outside the region have decided not to compete, due to the city’s 14-day quarantine requirement implemented because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pun Weng Kun made the comments on Sunday while speaking to reporters at the Macao Sports Carnival 2020. The race, set for November 19th to 22nd, may go ahead with no foreign participants. The Formula 3 auto race has already been cancelled, replaced by a Formula 4 race.

The Macau Grand Prix has a storied history, starting with the first sports car event there in 1954, followed by motorcycle racing in 1976. Held in the streets of its namesake city, the event is especially dangerous to motorcycle racers, with miles of Armco lining the track and a distinct lack of runoff areas. Generally avoided by racers at the very highest level of the sport, 1993 Motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz famously visited in 1988 aboard his Pepsi-sponsored Suzuki RGV500, pulling out a considerable lead and proceeding to wow the crowd withwheelies at every opportunity. Past winners include Ron Haslam, Joey Dunlop, Carl Fogarty, and most recently, Michael Rutter.

Kevin Scwhantz racing Macau in 1988.

Macau itself is considered a special administrative region of China, with its own government, with a population of over 640,000 contained within 32.9 square km (12.7 square miles). Pun Weng Kun commented that there would be an official announcement by the organizing committee next month, once final arrangements have been made.

Source: macaunews.mo