MotoGP Races the Clock to Save the Qatar GP

MotoGP remains determined to hold the Qatar Grand Prix, despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, but the timeline is rapidly approaching a critical decision point. The championship's newly-appointed deputy CEO, Carlos Ezpeleta, affirmed the organization's desire to resolve the situation swiftly. "We are still working and talking with the government of Qatar," he stated.

The race, originally scheduled for April, has been pushed to November 8 due to tensions between Iran and the United States, with the Losail International Circuit located near Al Udeid Air Base, which faced several Iranian rocket attacks. Ezpeleta emphasized that the urgency stems from the title fight being down to the wire, as teams need to know the number of remaining races to strategize effectively.

He clarified that the decision must be made before the Asian tour begins on October 4. However, recent reports suggest that a decision may be finalized within days, with MotoGP potentially dropping Qatar outright. Alternative venues, such as Sepang for a second weekend, have been ruled out. This decision impacts the 2026 calendar, which is now set at 21 rounds, and its connection to the 2027 calendar, which is nearly finalized but contingent on regional developments.

Meanwhile, MotoGP's parent company, Formula 1, is also grappling with the situation. F1's commercial rights holder, Liberty Media, recently acquired Dorna Sports, the parent company of MotoGP, for €4.3 billion. This acquisition has delayed F1's 2027 calendar announcement, with Imola being considered as a potential alternative for the season finale.

The Qatar race's cancellation has also prompted the World Endurance Championship to move its Qatar round to Imola and eliminate its Bahrain round, focusing on European venues.