Yamaha Withdraws From Qatar MotoGP Amid Middle East Tensions

The MotoGP season is entering its final stretch with three races remaining, but the field will be incomplete in Qatar. Yamaha has confirmed it will not field a team for the Grand Prix scheduled for next weekend.

The Japanese manufacturer announced the withdrawal on Sunday, shortly after the conclusion of the Malaysian Grand Prix. The decision rests on a company-wide policy that limits employee travel to the Middle East.

Yamaha stated that it could not find sufficient reason to alter those existing restrictions for the upcoming event. The team will sit out the race at Lusail International Circuit, which is located outside Doha, Qatar.

Two riders are affected by the absence. Fabio Quartararo of France, the 2021 world champion, and Alex Rins of Spain ride for the Yamaha factory team. Their non-participation marks the first time a manufacturer has dropped a round of the current season.

The MotoGP Group expressed disappointment with the choice. The governing body noted that Yamaha’s absence carries sporting implications for the championship standings. It argued that the decision did not reflect the extensive safety assurances provided to all stakeholders.

Organizers in Qatar and safety advisers had previously communicated that no changes were needed for the event. The race is set to run from Friday through November 8. All other manufacturers have confirmed they will compete.

The timing of the withdrawal follows recent instability in the region. Qatar faced Iranian attacks between February and April after the United States and Israel began a war with Iran. On Friday, a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker was struck by unidentified objects in the Gulf. In September 2025, an Israeli air strike in Doha killed and injured Hamas leaders. The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation is currently reviewing if the decision will impact the race, according to a request for comment.