Yamaha withdraws from Qatar Grand Prix

sportsNov 1, 202622114

Yamaha announced it will not travel to Doha and will skip the Qatar Grand Prix at Losail International Circuit on 6-8 November, citing a company-wide travel restriction that bars employees from visiting war-affected regions. Both the factory Yamaha team and satellite partner Pramac informed MotoGP Group of the withdrawal after a final rider and team appeal to cancel the round failed. Yamaha said its decision follows its latest assessment of Middle East security and is independent of measures taken by MotoGP and the event organiser, and the company said it expects to return at the Portuguese Grand Prix. MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta had travelled to Qatar to obtain assurances from local authorities, and MotoGP says it received confirmations from independent safety advisers and the circuit that the event should proceed. MotoGP warned Yamaha of possible sporting consequences and said any sanctions will be determined by the sport's governing body, the FIM. Autosport reported that riders who skip Qatar could face sporting or financial penalties, including potential bans from subsequent races in Portugal and Valencia. Yamaha’s withdrawal leaves it alone among teams that have otherwise confirmed their presence at Losail and escalates the standoff between the manufacturer and MotoGP organisers.

Simon Patterson

@denkmit.bsky.social

BREAKING NEWS: Yamaha formally withdraw from the Qatar Grand Prix

442h ago

lkskljap.bsky.social6

I like it, CREDIT to Yamaha to stand up against the Dorna!

Sully27gp5

Yamaha for the 'Nobel Peace Prize' #Liberty #MSEG can stick it up their arse. Finally we have some semblence of a Factory participent with the testicular fortitude to stand up to the 'Plantation owner'. #BravoYamaha #F*kLiberty

bigleggy8.bsky.social3

Blimey Simon,that is breaking news.

Max Vanoni2

Good on them but the cynic in me thinks that their decision has been also influenced by their dire championship standings. I guess Pramac will be there thought? What about the Yamaha personnel seconded to Pramac?

Martin D1

Having recently left Qatar for good yet having two of our cats and many friends still there, I really hope nothing happens even if it allows Liberty to say ‘told you so’. And I’m full of praise for Yamaha who seem to have applied a wise aviation approach; if there’s any doubt, there’s no doubt. 👏

Gorkh1

Should we expect the same from Honda ? Good for Yamaha !

Quoting this

Simon Patterson15

Conformation that this also applies to Pramac. No decision yet on whether it also affects the Moto2 team, which is less reliant on Yamaha staff - but fighting for a world championship!

David Emmett

@motomatters.com

Something to watch. Tensions riding between riders and #MotoGP over Qatar. Riders face being banned from Portimão and Valencia if they are not ready to get on track at Qatar on Friday, unless they have a valid medical excuse. www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/...

22Yesterday

Kory Steele7

Now everyone can will stress-induced vision problems and the round will have to be cancelled. No one can prove you don't have vision problems.

Stuart Ellis6

The beatings will continue until morale improves. This is disgusting on every level.

Nita Lewsey6

Government warnings about travelling the area not being taken seriously by MotoGP says lot. Threatening riders with racing sanctions is abysmal

Stevie W2

The riders should demand all mseg, Dorna etc people attend with all their families before going. This is so so stupid.

Filbert Wang2

The problem is that 'everything is completely normal', as Dorna say, but won't be after the mid-terms finish, US strikes resume and then the airports in Qatar are shut - every news outlet reporting on the topic has said this is highly likely. This is definitely one of those money vs sense moments.

davidwindhorst.bsky.social2

"Uh...Kenny? Yeah, tell us how to organize an alternative racing series on short notice."

Ro de Jong 🧒

@rodejong.bsky.social

MotoGP: “You need a compelling reason not to go to Qatar” Riders: “We don't want to die” MotoGP: “Not enough” Can't make this shit up 🤦‍♂️ #motorsport motorsport.es #MotoGP #QatarGP Via Simon Patterson and F1BigData

822h ago

YYC Steve 🍁1

Absolutely infuriating. I‘d quit the sport over that B.S. if I was a rider.

🇺🇸🌺 Cranky Cloud Yeller on Borneo 🌺🇲🇾1

When the shit starts Wed. (After US election on Tues.) hopefully MGP will wise up. Personally, I'm still hoping for two more versions of the (Middle Eastern Country) Grand Prix in Malaysia in F1...

Neil Morrison

@neilmorrison87.bsky.social

Martin ‘frustrated, disappointed’ about Malaysian GP withdrawal. Flying back to Spain today to start recovery for Qatar. Trying to be positive: ‘1 year ago I didn’t know if I was going to be on a MotoGP bike. And here I am fighting for a championship. I’ll keep fighting.’

9Yesterday

AUTOSPORT Bot (Unofficial)

@autsport-com.bsky.social

Yamaha boycotts Qatar Grand Prix amid ongoing Middle East war #MotoGP

71h ago

Dre Harrison

@dreharrison.bsky.social

Yamaha blink first, withdrawing from the Qatar Grand Prix. #MotoGP

82h ago

MGP1 MotoGP

@mgp1.bsky.social

It's all kicking off! Yamaha has informed MGP Group about its decision not to participate in the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix ❌ #MotoGP

52h ago

Junaid Samodien

@junaidsamodien.bsky.social

Alex Marquez considering surgery next week, could miss Qatar GP www.autosport.com/motogp/news/...

1Yesterday

Rick Whodied

@durrellb.bsky.social

Hard to see how HRC don't also pull out of Qatar. And given that FIM and MotoGP are threatening Yamaha for nto going, makes it easy for Ducati to pull out too. If they ban Marquez for the last two races and he loses the title as a result, that's a horrendous look for MotoGP.

21h ago

Sully27gp

@sully27gp.bsky.social

Oh they can, and they should. If the series loses top riders from #MotoGP (As in dead riders), the whole #Liberty shit show will fall over. They will spend the rest of their days in Court defending law suits for negligence. Qatar race is pure $ Corporate greed and they have shown F*k all concern

21h ago

Sex Crazed Salt Shaker of Death

@dsmdexter.bsky.social

Too bad, they could have stopped and seen the MotoGP in Qatar. Tickets should be readily available...

213h ago

Speedcafe

@speedcafe.com

Japanese automotive giant Yamaha has boycotted MotoGP and its upcoming Grand Prix of Qatar.

12h ago

rattatatouille

@rattatatouille.bsky.social

Also a few races like Vegas and Qatar were the team's fault. Not sure how much of it is Bezzecchi's team letting him down but I think the driver matters more in MotoGP relative to F1.

14h ago

Captain Corbin Laden

@ricknashtag.bsky.social

LOL easy for me to say but the riders should all call MotoGPs bluff. No way they ban all the grid from the next 2 races. That just makes MotoGP look worse. https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1108931/1/motogp-riders-face-bans-if-they-dont-race-qatar-stunning-report-claims

118h ago

OSINT Mirror Feed

@osint-mirrors.bsky.social

Source: @osinttechnical on X MotoGP riders reportedly risk disqualification for the rest of the season if they refuse to race in Qatar next week - Autosport The move comes as most of the paddock reportedly would prefer not to travel with tensions skyrocketing.

122h ago

3 sources

autosport.comYamaha boycotts Qatar Grand Prix amid ongoing Middle East war motogpnews.comYamaha tell MotoGP they're withdrawing from the Qatar Grand Prix rss-optimus.frGP de Malaisie: Yamaha renonce au Grand Prix du Qatar en raison "de la situation au Moyen Orient"

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Yamaha withdraws from Qatar Grand Prix

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