Sensational news – Yamaha pulls out: No trip to the Qatar GP in Doha!

Yamaha Racing will not be competing in the Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Doha! The Japanese manufacturer announced this immediately after the Malaysian Grand Prix. Whilst preparations are underway for the next round of the MotoGP in the desert nation, Yamaha has pulled out.

Following a reassessment of the situation in the Middle East, Yamaha has determined that there are insufficient grounds to amend the existing company-wide travel restrictions. Consequently, Yamaha has informed the MotoGP group of its decision not to take part in the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix, and will not send the MotoGP team on the road again until the Grand Prix at Portimão, two races hence.

An official statement from Yamaha MotoGP headquarters read: “This decision reflects Yamaha’s assessment of the information currently available and is in no way related to the measures taken by the MotoGP Group and the organiser. Yamaha remains fully committed to MotoGP and looks forward to returning to competition at the Portuguese Grand Prix.” There were initially no personal statements from management or the MotoGP riders.

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Foto: Gold and Goose

Immediately afterwards, the communications department responded with a statement from the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group: “MotoGP is disappointed by Yamaha’s decision not to take part in the Qatar Grand Prix. Whilst we recognise that the team is subject to an overarching corporate policy restricting travel to the Middle East, we do not believe that this decision is consistent with the comprehensive assurances given to all parties involved in the championship. Following consultation with the State of Qatar, the Lusail International Circuit, independent security advisers and as part of MotoGP’s own ongoing risk assessment process, MotoGP has no information that would justify a change to the current plans for the event.”

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It continues: “We have communicated this position, together with the latest available information, to all manufacturers and teams today, and welcome the confirmation from the remaining participants that they will be competing in Qatar; we thank them for this commitment. In addition to the contractual implications of Yamaha’s decision regarding its agreements with MotoGP and the IRTA (team association, note), Yamaha’s non-participation also has sporting consequences, which will be dealt with by the FIM in accordance with the championship regulations.”

This also makes it clear that Yamaha Racing occupies a special position in the ‘Qatar GP’ case. Only the manufacturer, currently languishing in fifth place in the Constructors’ World Championship, is opposing the official announcement by the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group that the event will go ahead as planned at the Losail Circuit. Yamaha is prepared to accept both the threatened contractual penalties and the ‘sporting’ consequences.