MotoGP, Sportrik Media - MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has admitted that the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix could be at risk due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The situation intensified after a joint military strike carried out by the United States and Israel last weekend triggered retaliatory attacks across the region. The conflict has already caused widespread travel disruption, with several Middle Eastern airspaces closed, affecting international flights.
The impact has already been felt in global motorsport. The FIA World Endurance Championship became the first major series to react to the escalation by postponing its 2026 season-opening race in Qatar, which had originally been scheduled for 28 March at the Lusail International Circuit.
The same venue is set to host the fourth round of the MotoGP season on 12 April. However, Ezpeleta has now acknowledged publicly for the first time that the event may not proceed as planned.
“Would it be possible to return on another date? Don’t worry. We always have a plan B,” Ezpeleta said during an Estrella Galicia 0.0 event in Madrid.
“We have to wait. I cannot say now that we are not going. We have been talking to Qatar since Sunday and we will make a decision.”
“It’s unlikely that we will go to Qatar on April 12, but I cannot say that we won’t go,” he added.
Ezpeleta also ruled out the possibility of moving the race to a different venue if the Qatar event cannot take place.
“Go somewhere else? Definitely not,” he said.
“Will it fit into the schedule? We are very good at making schedules. We will know something soon. We are waiting for them to tell us something. There is still time.”
The 2026 MotoGP season began last weekend in Thailand, where Marco Bezzecchi claimed victory in the opening race. Meanwhile, defending world champion Marc Márquez retired from the race.
The regional tensions have also raised questions regarding the Formula 1 calendar, which includes a Middle East double-header in April with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for 12 April and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 19 April.
Qatar and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix also appear on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, although those events are scheduled later in the season in November and December.
Formula 1 has stated that it is currently “closely monitoring” developments in the Middle East. Meanwhile, this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne is expected to proceed largely unaffected after teams arranged charter flights to avoid travel disruptions.
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