MOTOGP TEAMS STILL WAIT FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ON QATAR GP

MotoGP’s Qatar Grand Prix, currently scheduled for 8 November at the Lusail International Circuit, remains surrounded by uncertainty despite official statements that the event is still being planned. The geopolitical situation in the Middle East has already affected international motorsport in 2026, and the latest reports suggest the same pressure is now being felt directly in the MotoGP paddock.

According to SPEEDWEEK.com, the MotoGP teams have not received concrete new information about the race’s status and are still in a waiting phase. Signals from Qatar also point to doubts. Reports from the environment of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation indicate that staff involved with the event have been detained, and that they have not yet booked flights for the Grand Prix. While this does not amount to an official cancellation, the lack of logistical movement suggests that confidence on the ground is not as strong as public messaging might imply.

MotoGP’s leadership has continued to stress that the priority is to race in Qatar. MotoGP’s deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta said in Aragon that the organisation is “still working on it” and speaking with the Qatar government to determine whether the race can go ahead. He also noted that, in recent days, other events in the region had been confirmed, adding context to the ongoing discussions.

At the same time, Ezpeleta acknowledged that contingency planning is necessary if travel to Lusail proves impossible. “We try to keep racing in Qatar, and if that’s not possible, we’ll see whether there is a Plan B or not,” he said, before reiterating: “But as I said, the priority remains to race in Qatar.”

Crucially, the decision is not expected to be delayed indefinitely. Ezpeleta confirmed that clarity should come before the MotoGP circus departs for the overseas Asia tour. “Before we leave for the Asia tour, we will have made a decision,” he stated when asked about a deadline.

The uncertainty is also linked to longer-term planning. Ezpeleta said the 2027 MotoGP calendar is already around 95 percent complete, but that the organisation is waiting to see how the Middle East situation develops, because it could influence next year’s schedule as well. He also confirmed that the 2027 season will begin on 7 March in Buriram, and that two new events—Buenos Aires and Adelaide—are set to join the calendar. The full release is expected in the coming weeks.

For now, Qatar remains officially on the books for 8 November, but behind the scenes the reported lack of team updates and the absence of flight bookings for event staff underline that the race’s fate is still being negotiated. The expectation, according to Ezpeleta, is that the outcome will be decided before the Asia trip begins.