Yamaha to skip Qatar MotoGP over travel rules
The Japanese manufacturer cited internal safety protocols, while race organizers warned of potential penalties and confirmed the event will proceed next week.
By Grace Sullivan ·
Motorcycle racing fans will see one fewer team on the grid at Lusail International Circuit next weekend. Yamaha Motor Company announced on Sunday that it will not enter the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix. The decision stems from the team's internal assessment of safety conditions in the Middle East. The race is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Lusail International Circuit.
Yamaha stated that its choice was made independently of the MotoGP Group and the event organizers. The team said it reviewed its current company-wide travel restrictions and found no sufficient grounds to alter them. Consequently, Yamaha informed the MotoGP Group of its intent to sit out the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix. The team indicated it plans to return to competition at the Portuguese Grand Prix, which is the next event on the calendar.
Race organizers expressed disappointment with the announcement. MotoGP stated that it received extensive assurances from all championship stakeholders. The governing body consulted with the State of Qatar, Lusail International Circuit, and independent safety advisers. MotoGP said its own ongoing risk assessment process did not identify any information that would warrant a change to current plans. The organization noted that the rest of the grid has confirmed they will compete in Qatar.
MotoGP warned that Yamaha's non-participation carries sporting implications. The governing body said the FIM, the International Motorcycling Federation, will manage any sporting consequences in accordance with championship regulations. This process may result in penalties for the Japanese team. The remaining teams in the championship are aware of these contractual obligations.
Yamaha currently holds the last position in the constructors' championship with 105 points. Ducati leads the standings with 537 points. The team's absence removes one competitor from a field that is already navigating external pressures. Several riders have reportedly pushed to cancel the upcoming race, though organizers stand by their schedule.
The situation mirrors a similar event in March involving Formula 1. The FIA and Formula 1 called off Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April due to safety concerns related to the Iran war. Those cancellations followed Iranian strikes on both countries in response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The loss of two races in lucrative Middle East markets resulted in a financial hit to F1 and its teams. The F1 season is scheduled to finish with races in Qatar on Nov. 29 and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 6.
