Revised 2020 Pro Motocross Schedule Released

VMZ has once again led us astray. Never trust those guys! They are obviously full of it. After completely unfounded reports yesterday by those numbskulls at VMZ, MX Sports has released the REAL revised schedule for the 2020 Pro Motocross season.

(Side note: Sources tell our sources that the source to VMZ might have been none other than mister Wes Williams, who after 16 Coors decided he loved Loretta’s so much and was hoping he could make a big enough push that we could all just move there. Again, this is all according to sources to other sources to other sources. So, who knows.)

The series will be nine rounds, instead of the traditional 12, and will begin on August 15 at Loretta Lynn’s (FOR REAL). It will be the first national ever held at the prestigious venue, which has hosted the Amateur National Motocross Championship since 1982.

The series will then visit traditional stops at Washougal (August 22) and Ironman (August 29) before heading to RedBud for a doubled header on Saturday (September 5) and Tuesday (September 8). It will be the first time since 1979 that RedBud hasn’t hosted a national on July 4 weekend since 1977! It was hosted on May 22 that year before moving to its traditional home of July 4 weekend.

The series takes a week off before before moving to Millville on September 19 and then on to WW Ranch in Florida (September 26) before ending the series at Thunder Valley (October 3) and Pala (October 10).

“While we continue to navigate through these challenging and continuously evolving times of the coronavirus pandemic, we are confident that we’ve developed the framework for a high-caliber championship schedule that can be successfully implemented,” said Roy Janson, MX Sports Pro Racing Competition Director. “Although we respect the unpredictability of scheduling any live events during these uncertain times and are sensitive to the hardships many people are going through, we remain committed to making our best effort to host the world’s most prestigious motocross championship. Thanks to the tireless and cooperative efforts of our event organizers, competitors, sponsors and partners, not to mention the ongoing communication alongside local officials, we have an opportunity to prioritize the health and well-being of everyone. We will conduct these events in a safe environment by implementing several policies, all in an effort to control as many variables as possible.”

“From the moment we faced our first bout of adversity surrounding the coronavirus we have diligently tried to find a way to make the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship a reality,” said Davey Coombs, President of MX Sports Pro Racing. “Needless to say, it’s been a tumultuous year for everyone, and I think we’re on Plan ‘W’ by now. But we’re racers at heart, and our business is founded on bringing together fellow racers for some of the world’s most competitive and high-profile off-road motorcycle events. We know the motocross community is as passionate about this championship as we are, as it’s the lifeblood of the sport, and it’s been our goal to bring everyone, from riders to fans alike, the series they deserve. We’re confident that this schedule will accomplish that, and we look forward to providing the joy and sense of normalcy that American motocross can bring during these incredibly uncertain times.”

Will there be fans? Yes, some races will be allowing fans, according to the press release. Amateur racing is also a go for all events this year:

Select events will feature limited spectator capacity, while others will be conducted exclusively for participants, professional and amateur, with attendance limited to crew members and family. All events will feature an amateur racing component, both before and after the professional race day. Ticketing and amateur race program information will be posted Monday, July 20, on the event websites.

More from the press release regarding protocols in place:

All events on the 2020 schedule will adhere to social distancing guidelines and health management protocols. Each round will be conducted in accordance with local and state ordinances, as identified between the event organizer and local officials. The paddock will be closed to the general public, with access limited to properly credentialed parties only and facemasks required at all times. Hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer stands will be placed throughout the venues and personal hygiene education signage will be prominent.

This is certainly a strange year, but kudos to the staff at MX Sports for getting a schedule together. Hopefully we get all nine rounds in.