BRADLEY Smith will have to wait until August at the earliest to race in MotoGP after three more races were called off.

The 29-year-old from Forest Hill is Aprilia’s test rider, but is deputising while Andrea Iannone contests a ban for a doping offence.

However, the coronavirus lockdown is thwarting his chances of making the most of the opportunity.

Yesterday MotoGP announced races in Germany, the Netherlands and Finland had been cancelled.

That means the entire first half of the calendar has been affected.

As things stand, the season is therefore due to start after the month-long summer break, with the Czech Grand Prix at Brno on August 9.

The British Grand Prix follows three weeks later at Silverstone, who this week announced the Formula 1 race in July cannot be held in front of crowds.

Smith is due to fill in for Iannone until his appeal is heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The latest postponements also impact on the Oxfordshire rider’s challenge in the MotoE championship.

A round was due to be held at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen at the end of June, which has been cancelled.

That series is now scheduled to start in Austria on August 16.