Japanese MotoGP set to be called off due to volcano

The Japanese round of the MotoGP world championship at Motegi next weekend looks set to be called off due to air travel problems caused by the cloud of volcanic ash in Europe.                           
 

There was no official confirmation from the circuit authorities on Sunday but a MotoGP source told Reuters that the Swiss-based governing body, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), planned to make a statement on Monday.                                           

The Motorcyclenews.com website reported that the race, which would have been the second round of the season, would be rescheduled to Oct 3 as round 14 before Malaysia and Australia.       
 

If the postponement is confirmed, the next round will be at Spain's Jerez circuit on May 2. Italian world champion Valentino Rossi leads the standings.                                           

While most of the freight will have been flown straight on from the season-opener in Qatar, the cloud of ash has created a no-fly zone over much of northern and central Europe and made it impossible for many team personnel to reach Japan.               

Formula One teams, a majority of them British-based, and international media were already facing significant difficulties in returning from China after Sunday's grand prix in Shanghai.