Middle East tensions could force Qatar MotoGP rethink
MotoGP is now considering moving the 2026 Qatar GP to another country, despite Lusail remaining the official venue for the November race.
MotoGP has admitted that the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix could be moved to another country, despite the race currently scheduled for Lusail in November.
The Qatar GP was originally due to form the fourth round of the 2026 MotoGP championship on 10-12 April, but the race was postponed as a result of the deteriorating geopolitical situation in the Middle East. MotoGP eventually rescheduled the event for 6-8 November, with the race itself taking place on 8 November.
At the time, MotoGP was clear that Qatar would remain on the calendar and that the race would simply be moved to a later date. That position has now shifted, with MotoGP sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta confirming that the championship is considering the possibility of taking the race somewhere else.
Speaking about the situation, Ezpeleta said that MotoGP's preference remains to race in Qatar, but acknowledged that the sport is now looking at alternatives. The problem is that finding another circuit capable of hosting a MotoGP round at such short notice is far from straightforward, particularly this late in the season.
"We are at a point in the year when most European circuits are already occupied," Ezpeleta explained, while also pointing to the logistical headache created by the current November schedule. MotoGP's equipment would need to be ready to travel to Portugal only two weeks after the proposed Qatar weekend.
That leaves MotoGP with a fairly awkward problem. The championship does not simply need somewhere with a suitable circuit. Any replacement venue would need to be capable of hosting a full MotoGP weekend, fit into an already packed international calendar and give teams enough time to transit their equipment after the event.
The current plan has Qatar on 8 November, followed by the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao on 22 November and the season finale at Valencia on 29 November. Those dates were already moved to accommodate Qatar after its original April date was abandoned.
MotoGP is now expected to make a decision on the Qatar situation by the end of August, leaving little time for the teams to prepare for the change.
It’s Important to note that this is not currently a cancellation, and that MotoGP is still working towards holding the race at Lusail, with another venue under investigation as a contingency. Ezpeleta has stressed that his preference remains to go to Qatar, rather than simply remove the race from the championship.
The uncertainty could also have consequences beyond the 2026 season. Qatar is currently scheduled to follow Thailand as the second round of the 2027 MotoGP championship, meaning any decision over the country's ability to host the sport could have a knock-on effect on next year's calendar too - especially should the situation in the region persist.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
