YAMAHA COULD LOSE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER QATAR WITHDRAWAL

Yamaha could face sporting penalties and contractual consequences after withdrawing from the Qatar Grand Prix, with the FIM expected to decide whether to take action. MotoGP Group has warned of possible “sporting consequences,” while references to “contractual implications” leave open the possibility of legal action if Yamaha is found to have breached its agreements.

The team knew penalties were a risk, but company-wide travel restrictions meant it had not received the assurances needed to make an exception. Journalist David Emmett, writing on MotoMatters, reported that any punishment is “likely to include” points deductions across all three championships.

Such deductions could affect Yamaha’s riders and teams’ standings. Fabio Quartararo is 14th in the riders’ championship on 79 points, while Alex Rins is 20th on 29. Pramac also joined the withdrawal, potentially putting Jack Miller—19th on 31 points—at risk of a sanction. Pramac’s Toprak Razgatlioglu has already been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Yamaha and Pramac occupy the bottom two places in the teams’ standings. Ninth-placed LCR is 21 points ahead of the factory Yamaha squad. In the constructors’ championship, Yamaha trails Honda by 73 points and has scored 105 points this season, making a last-place finish highly likely. If deductions are imposed this year, their practical effect may be limited, as Yamaha has been focused on 2027.

A fine would also be more manageable for Yamaha than for Aprilia or KTM, the grid’s smallest manufacturers. The other four manufacturers remain committed to racing, despite Miller’s claim that 19 of the 22 riders oppose taking part. MotoGP Group has also warned that riders who do not compete could be banned. It remains unclear whether Quartararo and other Yamaha riders would be held personally responsible for a decision made by their employer.