Yamaha has withdrawn its MotoGP team from next weekend’s race in Qatar, citing “the situation in the Middle East”. The Japanese manufacturer announced its decision shortly after the Malaysian MotoGP race on Sunday. Among the racers on the MotoGP grid riding Yamaha bikes is France’s Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 world champion.
Alex Rins of Spain is the other racer on the Yamaha team. The sport’s governing body, the MotoGP Group, said it was “disappointed” by the decision and said that “Yamaha’s non-participation also carries sporting implications”. MotoGP said talks with the organisers in Qatar, as well as safety advisers, had not flagged any reasons to change plans for the event, which will run from November 6-8 at the Lusail International Circuit outside Qatar’s capital Doha.
The statements came shortly after the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang, after which there are just three races left in the season, starting in Qatar. Ducati’s reigning seven-time world champion Marc Marquez won the race at Sepang and could clinch the title in Doha. Al Jazeera has requested a comment from the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation.
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