Yamaha pulls out of next weekend’s MotoGP race in Qatar over safety concerns in the Middle East
The MotoGP team Yamaha announced on Sunday it will not participate in the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix due to safety concerns in the Middle East. The Japanese-based team assessed the situation independently from MotoGP Group and the event organizer. Yamaha stated it does not see sufficient justification to alter its existing travel restrictions.
Consequently, Yamaha informed MotoGP Group about its decision not to race in the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for Friday to Sunday at Lusail International Circuit. The team remains dedicated to MotoGP and aims to return for the Portuguese Grand Prix. Despite the Qatar GP, there are two more races left this month in Portugal and Spain.
Formula 1 and its governing body, the FIA, canceled Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April due to safety concerns stemming from the Iran war. The cancellation resulted in a significant financial loss for F1 and its teams, as the season is set to conclude with races in Qatar on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 6.
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