Yamaha: Smaller crew, face masks and shields

Like the rest of the MotoGP paddock, Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli greeted the publication of the new-look 2020 calendar with joy and relief.

But he also underlined that the coronavirus-era world championship will be very different to the seasons before.

"Finally the wait is over!" Meregalli said. "I think the announcement of an updated 2020 calendar is happy news for every MotoGP fan – just as much as it is for us, the team members and our riders.

"The temporary halt in motorsport activity was, of course, crucial and the right thing to do, and we all had to play our part in the battle against Covid-19, but now we can look forward to better times.

"But that doesn‘t mean MotoGP is going to be 100% the same as it was."

A detailed safety protocol has been created by Dorna in order to receive government permission to hold the 13 races listed, at 8 different circuits.

The closed-door events will feature a smaller paddock, no fans plus extensive health and safety measures, including coronavirus testing, social distancing and PPE equipment.

"We have been preparing for the start of the 2020 MotoGP season for weeks now at the Yamaha Motor Racing headquarters, so we are ready to go, following all the required new health and safety regulations," Meregalli said.

"We‘ll have a smaller crew [45 maximum staff] and will be working with the mandatory Personal Protective Equipment, including face masks and face shields.

"The races will also be strange without the fans present at the track – we will certainly miss them – but I think we can all agree that it‘s great that we will finally be able to watch the riders in action again!"

The 2020 season has so far been reduced from 20 rounds to 13, all in Europe and including five double-headers - repeat visits to the same track. Some of the four remaining flyaway rounds might be added on at the end of the European season, if fans are allowed at the track.

This year's line-up will be the last for Valentino Rossi as a factory Yamaha rider, with Maverick Vinales joined by Fabio Quartararo for 2021. Rossi is currently in talks to swap places with the Frenchman, by joining the Petronas Yamaha team.