MotoGP “trying to go to Qatar” this year but cancellation reports mount

MotoGP’s new deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta says the championship is “trying to be able to go to Qatar” in November, but reports of it being cancelled are mounting.

The Qatar Grand Prix was originally due to take place in April as the fourth stop of the 2026 calendar.

But it was moved to early November due to the war in the Middle East between the United States and Iran.

With no end in sight to the conflict, doubt has mounted in recent weeks that MotoGP would be able to race in Qatar at all this year.

The FIA World Endurance Championship cancelled its postponed Qatar and Bahrain rounds (the latter scheduled for the same weekend as MotoGP Qatar) and replaced them with European events, while Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix is being staged in Malaysia.

Qatar decision imminent

Ezpeleta, who was recently promoted to the role of deputy CEO, spoke to the media at the Aragon Grand Prix on Friday and was asked about the calendar.

“So, the 2027 calendar is nearly set,” he said.

“We're obviously waiting to see how the situation in the Middle East evolves, because that would also affect next year's calendar.

“And we're probably, a couple, three weeks away from being able to announce. I'd say on this year, we have such an incredible season, and the outcome of the story is so important on all sides that we want to really give the teams and the riders sufficient headspace to think about how they're managing the season.

“It's not the same managing for six events or seven, so we want to be able to make that decision as soon as possible =- not that much on the operational side, but especially on the sporting area of the business.

“So, I think we have to give the teams and the riders enough time to think about it. And then, on '27, the calendar is—I mean, like I was saying—95% set.

“We have exciting news about Adelaide being released very, very shortly.

“Two new events coming next season, which we're extremely excited about and we think that everybody—the fans, the teams, the riders—everybody's going to really, really enjoy that.

“I think we’re definitely moving in the right direction in the race promotion and event space.”

On Qatar, Spanish media reported him as saying: “We continue working and talking with the Qatari government.

“We know that several events have been confirmed in the region in recent days and we continue trying to be able to go to Qatar, a decision we want made before the start of the Asian tour [of races in October].”

According to The Race, MotoGP is set to cancel the Qatar Grand Prix without a replacement, bringing the calendar down to 21 races.

Contractually, this would cause no problems for MotoGP with its broadcast partners.

To accommodate the rescheduled Qatar GP, the Portuguese and Valencia races were pushed back a week.

It’s unclear if these will be brought forward again, which is something Pecco Bagnaia called for when Crash asked him about it at the British Grand Prix earlier this month.

The loss of the Qatar race would have a significant impact on the championship battle, as it would mean there are 37 less points up for grabs with the season now over halfway done.