2020 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix

The 2020 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix (officially known as the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya) was the ninth round of the 2020 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season and the eighth round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship. It was held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló on 27 September 2020.

Background

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The opening rounds of the 2020 championship were heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Grands Prix were cancelled or postponed after the aborted opening round in Qatar, prompting the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme to draft a new calendar. On 11 June, a new schedule based solely within Europe was announced. The Catalan Grand Prix, originally scheduled for June 7, was placed on September 27.

MotoGP Championship standings before the race

After the eighth round at the 2020 Emilia Romagna and Rimini's Coast Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso on 83 points, lead the championship by one point over Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Viñales, with Joan Mir a further 4 points behind.

In the Teams' Championship, Petronas Yamaha SRT with 147 points, lead the championship from Monster Energy Yamaha with 141. Suzuki Ecstar Team is third with 124 points, by 9 points over Ducati Team, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing sat 5th on 110 points.

MotoGP Entrants

Stefan Bradl replaced Marc Márquez from the Czech Republic round onwards while he recovered from injuries sustained in his opening round crash.

Free practice

MotoGP

The first practice session ended with Fabio Quartararo fastest for Petronas Yamaha SRT ahead of Ducati Corse's Andrea Dovizioso and Team Suzuki Ecstar's Joan Mir. The second practice session ended with Franco Morbidelli fastest for Petronas Yamaha SRT, followed by Johann Zarco and Brad Binder.