PERNAT SLAMS MOTOGP’S HANDLING OF QATAR GRAND PRIX CRISIS

Carlo Pernat has criticised MotoGP’s handling of the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix, saying the uncertainty around the event has damaged the championship’s image and made its officials look like “a bunch of amateurs.”

Riders and teams arrived in Lusail amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, after months of speculation about whether the race would go ahead. The first 45 minutes of practice took place, despite concerns about travelling to the region. Qatari officials had also issued guidance on what people at the circuit should do in the event of an attack. Although the immediate risk was described as relatively low, the situation prompted criticism of the sport’s communication and decision-making.

Pernat, a prominent rider agent, told MOW that the financial stakes were significant. He estimated Qatar’s hosting fee at between six and ten million, compared with roughly four million for a typical Grand Prix. “It’s clear that the race would go ahead at that point,” he said, referring to the money involved. But he argued that the handling of the crisis had created “a massive hole in the championship’s image.”

He also singled out the FIM, MotoGP’s governing body, for not speaking publicly about the situation. “The International Federation comes off worst of all, as it hasn’t said a word!” Pernat said. He questioned why the FIM president was absent, given that the circumstances were widely known and the federation is responsible for setting the rules. Pernat also claimed the FIM is paid by Dorna under a long-term agreement, estimating the annual figure at six or seven million dollars, while noting that he did not know whether it had changed.

The Qatar dispute has also raised questions about possible penalties for Yamaha. The manufacturer withdrew from the event, citing company-wide policies, after MotoGP reminded teams that skipping the weekend could result in fines. Yamaha has reportedly been warned it could be barred from the final two rounds of the season. Any further punishment rests with the FIM and could include the loss of points across all three Grand Prix classes. The federation’s response, and whether it will impose sporting sanctions, remains unresolved.