Japan's Suzuka Eight Hours motorcycle endurance race has been called off for the first time because of the coronavirus, organisers said Thursday. The annual event at Suzuka Circuit had already been pushed back from July to November, with organisers hoping the delay would allow them to hold the event. "But in light of the continued spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Japan and overseas... the decision has been made to cancel the race," the circuit said in a statement. The decision resulted from Japan's immigration restrictions on international visitors to Japan in the wake of the pandemic, it added. It is the first cancellation of the Japan round of the world motorcycle endurance championship series since the race was first staged in 1978. "We must accept the Japanese government's decision that takes into account the safety measures for the health of the population," said Jorge Viegas, president of the International Motorcycling Federation. si/gle