MotoGP leadership has defended the decision to proceed with the Qatar Grand Prix despite ongoing concerns from riders about traveling to the Gulf region. Deputy chief Carlos Ezpeleta stated that the championship made the right call while acknowledging that Yamaha’s unexpected withdrawal from the event was a surprise to the organizers.
The decision to hold the race was based on official guidance from the Qatari government and local embassies with a significant presence in the paddock. Ezpeleta explained that the event had been postponed from April to November 6 to 8 due to the United States and Israel war on Iran. He noted that the race would have been cancelled or delayed again if the regional situation had worsened.
In an interview with Reuters, Ezpeleta emphasized the importance of relying on verified intelligence rather than media speculation or disinformation. He argued that these factors created unnecessary noise around the event, although he acknowledged that rider concerns were normal and that the organizers did their best to mitigate them.
The timing of the race coincided with a period of instability in the Gulf, where several Saudi Arabian sporting events in football, tennis, golf, and cycling were cancelled or postponed. These changes followed attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on Riyadh’s international airport last month, which resulted in at least 12 deaths and over 300 injuries. However, Ezpeleta maintained that Qatar was not affected in the same manner as its neighbors, with race planning accelerating after conditions improved in June and July.
Yamaha cited company-wide travel restrictions for the Middle East as the reason for its absence. The factory team and the Prima Pramac satellite team did not line up on the grid, reducing the competitive field to 18 riders. Ezpeleta expressed that the decision was surprising given the detailed assessment and planning that had taken place, noting that all questions raised by Yamaha had been addressed.
Despite the surprise, Ezpeleta emphasized that Yamaha remains a historic and valued partner of the championship. He stated that while the non-participation carried sporting implications, any consequences would be managed by the FIM, the governing body of motorcycle racing. MotoGP would handle contractual matters directly with Yamaha, while the FIM would oversee any sporting discussions.
The absence of Yamaha was described as a disappointment by the championship leadership. Ezpeleta highlighted that a key strength of MotoGP is the commitment of all teams and riders to participate in the full season. As the rights holder, he affirmed that teams are obliged to show up for all events and races.
The episode has also prompted a review of how the management communicates with stakeholders. Ezpeleta acknowledged the need to proactively improve communication with teams and riders, who are the most important part of the championship. He drew a parallel to the 2011 race in Japan, which was held after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, noting that both events were guided by speculation rather than facts.
Yamaha and the FIM did not respond to requests for comment regarding the withdrawal. Notably, Yamaha’s Moto2 team did travel to Qatar, where Izan Guevara, who is second in the championship title fight, experienced a technical issue and did not finish the race.
In the top class, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi secured victory at the Qatar Grand Prix. Ducati’s Marc Marquez, who had won the sprint, finished second in the main race to extend his championship lead to 60 points with two rounds remaining in the season.
