MotoGP 2021: Malaysian MotoGP called off due to COVID-19 restrictions, Misano circuit to replace race in calendar

The Malaysian MotoGP scheduled for October was cancelled on Thursday due to Covid-19 restrictions with the Italian circuit at Misano stepping in to replace it, organisers announced. “The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting entry restrictions for Malaysia oblige the cancellation of the event,” a joint statement from the sport’s ruling body the FIM and promoters Dorna confirmed. This is the second year running the 24 October race in Sepang has been called off because of the pandemic. The Malaysia round of the world championship has suffered the same fate as the races this season in Thailand, Japan and Australia. Misano has stepped in to fill Sepang’s place on the calendar for what will be its second MotoGP weekend in a month, with the circuit named after the late Marco Simoncelli staging the San Marino Grand Prix on 19 September. “The name of this event will be announced in due course,” the organisers said. Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) leads the championship by 47 points from Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) ahead of the British Grand Prix, the 12th round of the 2021 season, on 29 August.