MotoGP has confirmed that next week’s Qatar Grand Prix will go ahead as planned, despite unease among riders about travelling to the Gulf while war against Iran spreads across the region.
Officials met teams in Malaysia on Sunday morning to review the latest information, including assurances from the State of Qatar, the Lusail International Circuit, embassies and independent experts. After that review, they concluded there was nothing that would warrant changing the current plans for the race, scheduled for 6 to 8 November.
The race was originally due to take place in April but was postponed because of the conflict, which has widened well beyond the initial United States and Israeli attacks on Iran. A group of riders had pressed for stronger guarantees before committing to travel, asking in particular for clarity on evacuation plans and indemnity insurance.
MotoGP said the safety and well-being of everyone in the paddock remained its highest priority, and that it would keep monitoring developments closely and stay in regular contact with the relevant authorities. It added that decisions of this kind had to rest on the most current facts and official advice, and that it would act if that assessment changed.
The International Road Racing Teams Association, which represents the teams and helps coordinate paddock logistics, also attended the meeting in Malaysia. Qatar has guaranteed that teams would not be stranded if the conflict escalates further.
Aprilia and Ducati, the two leading constructors this season, have confirmed they will travel to Qatar. Ducati’s championship leader Marc Márquez and Aprilia’s Jorge Martín are the leading title contenders, separated by 19 points heading into Sunday’s race in Malaysia.
One account, from a person with direct knowledge of the matter, suggests that all teams except Yamaha have committed to travelling, with the Japanese manufacturer awaiting instructions after its government advised citizens against non-essential travel to Qatar. That account has not been independently confirmed, and Yamaha’s position should be treated as unconfirmed for now.
Responsibility for ensuring riders attend rests with the teams, but any punishment for a rider who does not show up would fall to the sport’s governing body, the FIM. The Qatar round is the season’s final race in Asia before the championship returns to Europe for its last two rounds, in Portugal and Valencia.
Sources: Reuters, “MotoGP keeps Qatar GP on track after meeting with teams in Malaysia”, 1 November 2026, https://www.reuters.com/sports/motogp-keeps-qatar-gp-track-after-meeting-with-teams-malaysia-2026-11-01/
