MotoGP admits Qatar GP in doubt due to Middle East conflict
Doubts have been raised over the upcoming MotoGP round in Qatar.
MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has admitted that the Qatar Grand Prix is in doubt due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
A joint attack launched by the US and Israel on Saturday sparked retaliatory strikes across the region and has led to global travel disruption due to airspace closures across the Middle East.
The World Endurance Championship became the first major motorsport series to postpone a race in response to the escalation of military conflict in the Middle East, with the 2026 season opener in Qatar moved to later in the year.
Lusail was due to host the first round of the 2026 WEC season on 28 March, before hosting the fourth race of the MotoGP campaign on 12 April.
However, MotoGP chief Ezpeleta has for the first time publicly admitted that the race may not be able to go ahead.
“Would it be possible to return on another date? Don't worry. We always have a plan B,” Ezpeleta said on Wednesday at an Estrella Galicia 0.0 event in Madrid.
"We have to wait, I can't say now that we're not going. We've been talking to Qatar since Sunday, and we'll make a decision. It's unlikely that we'll go to Qatar on April 12, but I can't say that we won't go.”
Ezpeleta ruled out the possibility of finding a replacement venue should Qatar not be held.
“Go somewhere else? Definitely not,” he added. “Will it fit into the schedule? We're really good at making schedules. We'll know something soon, obviously. We're waiting for them to tell us something. There's still time.”
Marco Bezzecchi won last weekend's opening race of the MotoGP season in Thailand, as defending champion Marc Marquez retired.
F1 is also due to visit the region with a double-header planned in mid-April.
Question marks have been raised as to whether the scheduled Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix will be able to go ahead on 12 April and 19 April respectively.
Qatar and Abu Dhabi also have rounds on the 2026 F1 calendar, though those do not take place until late November and early December.
F1 has said it is “closely monitoring” the situation in the Middle East.
This weekend’s season-opener at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne will be largely unaffected after F1 used charter flights for key personnel in response to the travel disruption.
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