MotoGP director to visit Doha amid Qatar GP safety concerns

MotoGP Sporting Director Carlos Espetarés is traveling to Doha this week to seek explicit safety guarantees regarding the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for November 6–8. The race, which was previously postponed from April due to conflict involving Iran, faces renewed uncertainty as regional tensions escalate.

During the Australian Grand Prix, a majority of riders held a meeting and expressed significant concerns, with reports indicating two-thirds of the field voted against traveling to Qatar under current conditions. Riders have demanded rigorous safety assurances before committing to the event.

Beyond immediate race-day safety, officials are concerned about potential escalations that could lead to the closure of airspace while teams and personnel are in the country. Such a scenario could trap the MotoGP convoy and disrupt the final stages of the championship in Portugal and Valencia. While MotoGP maintains the race will proceed as planned to complete a series of three consecutive race weekends, a last-minute change remains possible.