2020 4-Day Enduro: Cancelled!

With one million Australians expected to join the ranks of the unemployed (hopefully temporarily), life’s been no fun for anyone in recent weeks. And for event promoters, it’s been especially hardgoing. Everything from local two-wheeled club meets to the grand daddy of sporting productions, the Olympic Games, has been brought to a grinding halt by coronavirus. And this week, Motorcycling Australia (MA) confirmed widespread speculation – as reported on Transmoto’s Facebook channel last week – that the 2020 Australian 4-Day Enduro, due to be held in Victoria on May 6-9, has officially been cancelled.

It’s particularly heartbreaking news for the 4-Day not just because this annual event is generally regarded as the most prestigious on the country’s off-road racing calendar, but also because this will be the third time in four years that MA has had to cancel it. In fact, it’s only the third time in the event’s otherwise uninterrupted history – since its 1978 inception at Cessnock, NSW – that it’s been canned.

“In response to ongoing developments and health concerns in relation to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and Government-imposed restrictions on travel, mass gatherings and social distancing,” Motorcycling Australia’s press release read, “MA and Dandenong Motorcycle Club have made the tough decision to cancel the 2020 Australian 4-Day Enduro, which was set to be run in Erica, Victoria, on May 6-9, 2020. Government restrictions imposed have now made it impossible for the event to continue.”
The PR went on to explain that, following discussions with Trail and Enduro Motorcycle Club of WA and Dandenong Motorcycle Club of Victoria, “It has been agreed that the 2021 A4DE will be held in Western Australia as previously announced, and the 2022 event will now be held in Erica, Victoria.” MA also made the point that, “The judgment to postpone any MA National event is not taken lightly, and we take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this required decision.”