MOTOGP PLANS TO RACE IN QATAR AS SAFETY REMAINS A PRIORITY

MotoGP’s Qatar Grand Prix is currently scheduled for 6 November 2026 at the Lusail circuit, near Doha, after the championship moved the race from its original date ahead of the European season opener. The change followed the outbreak of a major military conflict in the Middle East. Qatar is also expected to host a spring race in 2027, but the region remains classified as high risk, and countries including Germany and Austria continue to advise against travel there.

With the event about a month away, the situation remains uncertain. MotoGP’s stated approach is to proceed with preparations while official conditions allow, with safety as the overriding concern. At the Indonesian Grand Prix, MotoGP manager Carlos Ezpeleta said: “We are currently working, as planned, on putting the Qatar GP in place, with the safety of everyone involved, our staff and the fans remaining priority number one.” He added that if circumstances change at short notice, MotoGP will respond and work with teams and organisers on a safe plan, as it did when the Valencia Grand Prix was cancelled in 2024.

The paddock’s current position is that teams will travel if authorities and the local organiser give the event the go-ahead. There is no talk of a boycott, according to the report. But that does not remove the personal and workplace concerns facing those expected to make the trip. Employees at manufacturers such as Honda and Yamaha may need to discuss travel with their companies’ human-resources departments, given corporate travel policies and continuing warnings for the region.

The competing pressures are clear: MotoGP is a global business with substantial financial stakes, while the security outlook remains difficult to predict. For now, the championship is preparing to race in Qatar, but says it will reassess if the situation changes.