The race was won by
Franco Morbidelli, whilst
Joan Mir claimed the premier class title after securing seventh place with just 0.026s ahead of Ducati's
Andrea Dovizioso. It was Mir's first premier class title in his career and his second championship overall after previously winning the 2017 Moto3 World Championship, which also made him the first Moto3 World Champion to win the premier class title since the introduction of the Moto3 category in 2012. This success also marked the first rider's title for
Suzuki since
Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000 and the maiden teams' championship title for the Japanese manufacturer respectively.
The opening rounds of the
2020 championship have been heavily affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Valencian Community Grand Prix, scheduled in the original calendar on November 15 as the twentieth and final stage of the season, was postponed by one week for the initial shift of the
Grand Prix of the Americas (later cancelled on July 8) to the third Sunday in November (it was scheduled for April 5 as the third race of the championship). After the postponement of the
Argentine Grand Prix (initially classified as the fourth Grand Prix of the season on April 19) to November 22, the Valencia stage was moved back by another week (the Argentine race was later cancelled on July 31). Several Grands Prix were cancelled or postponed after the opening round in Qatar was halted, prompting the
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme to draft a new calendar. A new calendar based exclusively in Europe was announced on 11 June. The Valencian Community Grand Prix is classified as the fourteenth Grand Prix of the new calendar (the thirteenth for the MotoGP class) on November 15, as planned in the original one. It is preceded by the introduction of the
European Grand Prix, which is also held on the
Ricardo Tormo Circuit, after the organizers of the Valencian Community Grand Prix signed a contract with
Dorna Sports, owner of the sport's commercial rights, to host a double grand prix in the Valencia circuit. With the inclusion of the
Portuguese Grand Prix, which will be held on 22 November at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve as the last race of the season, this also marks that for the first time since 2001 the championship finale will not be held in Valencia.
MotoGP Championship standings before the race
After the victory in the
European Grand Prix,
Joan Mir confirmed himself at the top of the drivers' classification with 162 points.
Fabio Quartararo and
Álex Rins are 37 points behind the leader, with the Frenchman second due to the victories won this season (3 vs 1) compared to the Spaniard, who nevertheless gained three positions in the overall standings.
Maverick Viñales and
Franco Morbidelli are fourth and fifth, with 121 and 117 points respectively.
In the constructors' standings,
Suzuki climbs to the top of the standings with 181 points, overtaking
Ducati (now at 181 points).
Yamaha is third with 163 points, just 4 points ahead of
KTM.
Honda is fifth at 130 points, while
Aprilia closes the standings at 36 points.
Stefan Bradl replaced Marc Márquez for the eleventh straight race while the latter recovered from injuries sustained in his opening round crash.[1][2]
Iker Lecuona, after missing the Valencian Community Grand Prix due to Andorran quarantine rules, as his brother and assistant had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was entered into the event and was due to compete from Saturday practice onwards;[3] however, he tested positive on entry to the paddock and was subsequently withdrawn.[4]
^Yamaha scored 238 points as a manufacturer, but were deducted 50 points after failing to respect MSMA technical changes protocols.[18]
^Petronas Yamaha SRT riders scored 267 points, but the team was deducted 37 points after failing to respect MSMA technical changes protocols.[18]
^Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders scored 189 points, but the team was deducted 20 points after failing to respect MSMA technical changes protocols.[18]