MotoGP riders seek safety guarantees for Qatar race
3 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Oct 23, 2026, 2:00 PM
Last updated Oct 23, 2026
MotoGP riders convened with championship executives at Phillip Island on October 22, aiming to secure safety guarantees for the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix scheduled for November 8. This race was rescheduled from April due to ongoing instability in the region from armed conflict. Despite reassurances from the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group about safety, riders expressed reservations about traveling to Losail, with a significant majority opposing the trip after a vote via a WhatsApp group. They requested formal guarantees, including an evacuation plan and repatriation insurance should conditions worsen. Discussions also touched on reigniting the riders' association to ensure collective representation moving forward.
- •Riders met at Phillip Island on October 22 to discuss safety for Qatar GP.
- •Qatar Grand Prix was postponed from April and rescheduled for November 8.
- •Majority of riders oppose traveling to Losail, citing safety concerns.
- •Riders requested guarantees including evacuation plans and repatriation insurance.
- •Discussions may lead to the formation of a riders' association.
- 2:00 PMMotorsport.com — MotoGP riders ask for guarantees to go and race in Qatar
- 2:00 PMYahoo Sports — MotoGP riders ask for guarantees to go and race in Qatar
- 2:00 PMAutosport — MotoGP riders ask for guarantees to go and race in Qatar
"MotoGP riders met with the championship executives at Phillip Island on Saturday, with the intention of seeking a series of guarantees to agree to race in Qatar in two weeks' time. The only triple-header of this season came about as a result of the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix. The Losail race was initially due to take place in April, but was moved to November as a result of the armed ...Keep reading
"MotoGP riders met with the championship executives at Phillip Island on Saturday, with the intention of seeking a series of guarantees to agree to race in Qatar in two weeks' time. The only triple-header of this season came about as a result of the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix. The Losail race was initially due to take place in April, but was moved to November as a result of the armed ...Keep reading
"MotoGP's Qatar GP is scheduled to take place on 8 November, three weeks before Formula 1's own trip to the Middle Eastern nation
Sources
External links- Motorsport.comOct 23, 2026, 2:00 PMMotoGP riders ask for guarantees to go and race in Qatar
MotoGP riders met with the championship executives at Phillip Island on Saturday, with the intention of seeking a series of guarantees to agree to race in Qatar in two weeks' time. The only triple-header of this season came about as a result of the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix. The Losail race was initially due to take place in April, but was moved to November as a result of the armed ...Keep reading
- Yahoo SportsOct 23, 2026, 2:00 PMMotoGP riders ask for guarantees to go and race in Qatar
MotoGP's Qatar GP is scheduled to take place on 8 November, three weeks before Formula 1's own trip to the Middle Eastern nation
- AutosportOct 23, 2026, 2:00 PMMotoGP riders ask for guarantees to go and race in Qatar
MotoGP riders met with the championship executives at Phillip Island on Saturday, with the intention of seeking a series of guarantees to agree to race in Qatar in two weeks' time. The only triple-header of this season came about as a result of the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix. The Losail race was initially due to take place in April, but was moved to November as a result of the armed ...Keep reading
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
MotoGP•Oct 22, 2026, 4:33 PMDavid Alonso lashes out at Dani Holgado: "When you’re not a good person, there’s nothing you can do"
MotoGP•Oct 22, 2026, 3:30 PMMarquez accepts that current MotoGP contract could be his last
MotoGP•Oct 22, 2026, 11:42 AMMarc Marquez praises MotoGP title rival Jorge Martín: “He is an incredible talent”
MotoGP•Oct 22, 2026, 3:37 AMMotoGP riders prepare for 'emotional' farewell to Phillip Island
MotoGP•Oct 21, 2026, 3:03 PMKTM sees MotoGP 2027 as a fresh start: “We never had the chance to build a new bike”
MotoGP•Oct 21, 2026, 12:42 AMToprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury