Buriram MotoGP Round In Jeopardy As COVID Cases Rise In Thailand
Jul 20, 2021 at 12:25pm ET
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MotoGP could cancel Malaysian Grand Prix as well.
Courtesy of the ongoing global pandemic, the MotoGP calendar has evolved throughout the 2021 season. In June, 2021, race organizers canceled the Japanese Grand Prix due to the “travel complications and logistical restrictions” posed by COVID-19. That shift forced organizers to reschedule the Thailand round to October 15-17, 2021. Now, similar circumstances in the Land of Smiles are calling the Buriram Round into question.
Thailand is currently reporting a record number of coronavirus infections with a seven-day average of 10,000 new cases. The resulting travel restrictions and lagging vaccination efforts are forcing local authorities and Dorna officials to reassess the viability of the 2021 race. Plans to reopen provinces such as Phuket, Phangnga, and Buriram to fully vaccinated foreigners have stalled as a result.