Yamaha skips Qatar MotoGP amid regional security dispute

Yamaha will not field bikes at the Qatar Grand Prix next weekend, a move that puts the team on a collision course with race organizers and rivals.

The Japanese automaker announced Sunday that it is withdrawing from the event scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Lusail International Circuit. Yamaha stated it made the call independently of the MotoGP Group or the local event organizers. The company cited its existing company-wide travel restrictions, noting that its latest review of the Middle East situation did not provide enough reason to alter those policies. Racing officials for Yamaha confirmed they informed the championship body of the decision not to participate in the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix.

MotoGP pushed back against the withdrawal, expressing disappointment with the announcement. Organizers said they had consulted with the State of Qatar, Lusail International Circuit, independent safety advisers, and their own risk assessment teams. They claimed no information emerged to justify changing current plans. MotoGP stated that it received extensive assurances from all championship stakeholders and believes the decision does not reflect those guarantees.

The series warned that Yamaha has contractual obligations that could lead to punishment. MotoGP said the sporting implications of the non-participation will be handled by the FIM, the International Motorcycling Federation, in line with championship regulations. The organizer also noted that the rest of the grid has confirmed they will compete in Qatar.

Yamaha currently sits last in the constructors' championship with 105 points. Ducati leads the standings with 537 points. The team said it remains fully committed to the series and plans to return to competition at the Portuguese Grand Prix. Two races remain on the calendar for this month, with events in Portugal and Spain following the Qatar stop.

Several riders have reportedly pushed for the cancellation of next week's race. This dispute follows a similar move in March when Formula 1 and the FIA canceled Grand Prix events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April. Those cancellations occurred after Iran struck both countries in response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The loss of those two races in key Middle East markets represented a financial hit to F1 and its teams. The F1 season is set to conclude with races in Qatar on Nov. 29 and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 6.