Yamaha pulls out of Qatar MotoGP over Middle East concerns as Marc Marquez gets first title chance

Yamaha will not race at this weekend's Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix at Lusail. The company cited the situation in the Middle East, and MotoGP has said Yamaha could face penalties. The decision was announced on Sunday 1 November, shortly after the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. Marc Marquez arrives in Qatar, the race scheduled for 6–8 November, with his first chance to clinch the 2026 title.

Four Yamaha bikes withdrawn

The Race reported that Yamaha told MotoGP it will not enter its four bikes because of "company-wide travel restrictions." These are the two factory bikes of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, and the two at the satellite Pramac team, ridden by Jack Miller and Augusto Fernandez. Fernandez is standing in for the injured Toprak Razgatlioglu. Yamaha said it remains fully committed to MotoGP and expects to be back at the Portuguese Grand Prix later in November.

According to The Race, Pramac's Moto2 team will still go to Qatar. Yamaha let the team decide, and both riders wanted to race while the team is in the Moto2 title fight.

MotoGP: Yamaha could face penalties

The MotoGP Group said it was disappointed. It said it had consulted the Qatari authorities, the circuit and safety advisers, and found no reason to change its plans. It also said Yamaha could face penalties for breaking its contracts with MotoGP and the teams' association IRTA. Any sporting consequences will be decided by the FIM.

The other manufacturers are still going. The Race reported that Honda and KTM have confirmed they will compete, and that Aprilia and Ducati plan to travel. Riders are not all happy about it. Miller claimed many on the grid do not want to go, and Joan Mir said it is probably not what riders want. Al Jazeera reported that Qatar came under Iranian attacks between February and April after the US and Israel began a war on Iran. The Qatar round was originally scheduled for April but was moved to November because of the conflict.

Marquez's first chance to clinch

Marquez won at Sepang on Sunday. Grande Premio's standings after Malaysia have him on 399 points, 44 ahead of Jorge Martin (355) and 67 ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (332). Each weekend is worth up to 37 points (12 for the sprint and 25 for the Grand Prix). After Qatar, there will be 74 points left.

Motorsport Week says that to clinch the title in Qatar, Marquez must outscore Bezzecchi by eight points and Martin by 30 over the weekend. A sprint win alone is not enough, so the earliest he can clinch is in Sunday's Grand Prix. If he does it, it will be his 10th world title across all classes, one more than Valentino Rossi's nine.

Martin's wrist injury

Martin broke the radius in his right wrist at Phillip Island. He withdrew from the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend after Aprilia said he could not brake hard enough. The team said the aim is to have him fit for Doha. Martin has said he considers the title already lost. The Race also reported that Alex Marquez will miss Qatar to have surgery.

After Qatar, the season continues at Portimao (20–22 November) and ends in Valencia (27–29 November).

Key takeaways

• Yamaha has withdrawn all four of its bikes (factory and Pramac) from the Qatar MotoGP round on 6–8 November, citing the Middle East situation.
• The MotoGP Group says it is disappointed and that Yamaha could face penalties. Honda, KTM, Aprilia and Ducati are expected to race.
• Marc Marquez leads Jorge Martin by 44 points and Marco Bezzecchi by 67.
• Marquez clinches the title in Qatar if he outscores Bezzecchi by 8 points and Martin by 30. It would be his 10th world title.
• Yamaha expects to return at Portimao on 20–22 November.

FAQ

Why has Yamaha pulled out of the Qatar MotoGP? Yamaha said its company-wide travel restrictions for the Middle East remain in place. It did not find enough grounds to change them, despite the assurances given by the organisers.

Which riders will miss the Qatar Grand Prix because of Yamaha's decision? The factory Yamaha riders Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, and Pramac's Jack Miller and Augusto Fernandez.

What does Marc Marquez need to win the title in Qatar? He must outscore Marco Bezzecchi by at least eight points and Jorge Martin by at least 30 over the sprint and the Grand Prix. A sprint win alone is not enough, so the earliest he can clinch is in Sunday's race.

Sources: The Race, Al Jazeera, Grande Premio, Motorsport Week, Crash.net