The 2020 Isle of Man TT races have been canceled in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Government officials made the announcement as part of their efforts to ensure maximum protection for residents against the virus’ spread.
Laurence Skelly, Member of the House of Keys, Minister for Enterprise, gave this statement in a press release announcing the news:
“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 recognizes 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 health care professionals that the health and well-being of the Isle of Man’s residents is the single biggest priority and focus of this government.”
The 2020 Classic TT Races and Manx Grand Prix are still proceeding for now. These events take place in late August, so officials will make a determination of whether or not to stage these events in response to prevailing conditions this summer.