This year's Suzuka Eight-Hours has been postponed until November 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With border entry restrictions currently in effect in Japan making it impossible for Suzuka to host teams and riders from countries affected by coronavirus, the race has been postponed to later in the year.

Historically held in summer, ever since the first edition in 1978, the Suzuka 8 Hours will take place for the very first time in Autumn in 2020. In close collaboration with race organizer Mobilityland, the iconic Japanese race was promoted to the status of FIM EWC grand finale in 2017.

“We had been preparing for the Coca-Cola Suzuka Eight-Hours Endurance Road Race to be held in July, but have decided to postpone it in consideration of the current situation in which there is prohibition of large-scale events that attract large numbers of people and restriction of travel is expected to continue to increase in European countries," said Kaoru Tanaka, President of Mobilityland Corporation.

"We ask for the kind understanding of all the fans who were looking forward to attending the Suzuka Eight-Hours for this unavoidable postponement and of all the other stakeholders involved in this race event.

"We will make due preparations so that we can welcome the start of the event on November 1st together with all the fans and stakeholders involved in this event.”