EZPELETA SAYS QATAR GP BACKLASH LEFT MOTOGP NEEDLESSLY EXPOSED

MotoGP faced criticism for its decision to keep the Qatar Grand Prix on the calendar while the region was affected by armed conflict. The event had initially been scheduled for mid-April but was postponed because of the war in Iran. As the race at Lusail drew closer, concern and public scrutiny intensified, leaving the championship “unnecessarily exposed” to what Carlos Ezpeleta described as “noise.” Most riders had initially opposed racing amid the conflict, which had affected Qatar, but were ultimately persuaded to attend. Yamaha did not take part, citing company-wide travel restrictions.

The race went ahead without incident, in what reports described as complete normality. MotoGP deputy CEO Ezpeleta said afterwards that “the decision [to race] was the right one.” He said the arrangements made with Qatar meant the paddock was “better protected than in any other country,” adding: “The entire paddock has realised that life here is absolutely normal.”

Ezpeleta said his main regret was how the situation had been communicated. “We need to work better among ourselves, the teams and the riders, from a communication standpoint to better explain the situation here,” he said. He acknowledged that riders had raised concerns and said MotoGP had tried to address them, but added that the championship could work more closely with teams and riders to resolve issues before they became public.

The debate prompted questions about whether the dispute had damaged relations between MotoGP and its riders. Reports described heated discussions, including an unnamed rider’s accusation that Ezpeleta had done nothing but “shouting” at them. Ezpeleta rejected the idea that the relationship needed repairing: “There’s no need to rebuild a relationship because the relationship, of course, isn’t broken.” He said MotoGP and its riders needed one another and that the championship continued to stand up for them.

Responding to critics who considered holding the race irresponsible, Ezpeleta said people were entitled to their opinions and that changing them was not his job. He stressed that safety remained central to decisions, while explaining that MotoGP tries to stage every race on its calendar and seeks alternatives when that is not possible. He cited the 2024 Valencia event, moved to Barcelona because of flooding, as an example. The Qatar Grand Prix ultimately proceeded as planned, with Ezpeleta saying the episode showed the need for better communication between the championship, teams and riders.