QUARTARARO FAVOURS QATAR RACE AS BAGNAIA URGES CAUTION

The Qatar Grand Prix is in doubt as conflict continues in the Middle East, leaving MotoGP riders divided over whether the race should take place. The event was moved from April to November and is scheduled for 6–8 November, between the Australian and Malaysian rounds. Portugal and Valencia were pushed back a week, making Valencia the season finale on 29 November.

MotoGP and its governing body had previously maintained that Qatar would go ahead as planned, but recent developments have raised fresh uncertainty. The series has said the race will not be replaced on the calendar. If it is cancelled, the 2026 season would therefore have 21 rounds rather than 22. A proposed move to December has also been reported, but Formula 1’s Qatar race later in November would make that difficult: changes to the circuit after F1’s event would need to be considered.

Speaking to the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com at the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandalika, Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia urged caution and said safety should guide the decision. “I don’t want to express opinions that might get me into trouble,” he said. “However, if our safety is truly a priority, then all aspects must be carefully considered. If conditions aren’t right, I think it’s worth waiting before making a decision.”

Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo was more relaxed about travelling to Qatar. “I’m not worried about going to Qatar. The truth is, it’ll just be another race—one that was already scheduled; it’s not something that keeps me up at night,” he said. Quartararo added: “If Formula 1 goes, then we’ll have to go too.”

F1 is due to race in Qatar three weeks after MotoGP’s scheduled visit, with its event set to be the penultimate round of that championship. While some fans have suggested holding a double race weekend at Phillip Island, which is due to host its final MotoGP event in 2026, MotoGP has stressed that Qatar will not be replaced.