Yamaha will not participate in the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail next weekend after informing MotoGP that its company-wide travel restrictions remain in place for the Middle East. The manufacturer said its decision followed a new assessment of the regional situation and was separate from the measures adopted by MotoGP and the event organiser.
The withdrawal affects all four Yamaha MotoGP bikes, including the factory team and satellite outfit Pramac. Jack Miller and Augusto Fernandez, who is replacing the injured Toprak Razgatlioglu, are both Yamaha employees and are therefore included in the decision.
Yamaha said it remained committed to MotoGP and expected to return at the Portuguese Grand Prix. MotoGP, however, said the move could have both contractual and sporting consequences. The championship stated that it had consulted Qatar, Lusail International Circuit, independent safety advisers and its own risk-assessment process, and had found no information requiring a change to the event plans.
MotoGP added that Yamaha could face implications under its agreements with MotoGP and IRTA, while any sporting penalties would be handled by the FIM under the championship regulations.
The Pramac Yamaha Moto2 team is expected to attend the Qatar round. The team, which is competing for the title with Izan Guevara, was reportedly given the choice by Yamaha, and both sides of its garage wanted to travel. Team manager Gino Borsoi is also expected to accompany the squad.
The other manufacturers have indicated that they plan to compete. Honda said it was committed to attending and was working with its riders and MotoGPSEG to ensure the weekend went ahead. KTM also confirmed that its plans had not changed, while Aprilia and Ducati were understood to be travelling as scheduled.
Yamaha’s withdrawal comes after growing concern among riders about holding a global event close to the conflict in the region. Jack Miller said shortly before the announcement that the majority of the grid did not want to travel to Qatar, although he acknowledged that teams and riders could face financial, sporting and contractual pressure.
Riders have held discussions with MotoGP during the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. They have received assurances that reportedly include additional financial provisions from Qatar in the event of circumstances outside existing insurance coverage. Pecco Bagnaia said the riders had received almost everything they had requested, although some demands remained unresolved.
Miller said he did not believe the race should take place under the circumstances. Joan Mir expressed a similar view, saying that if riders went to Qatar, it might not be because they wanted to. Despite those concerns, Yamaha is currently the only manufacturer to have formally withdrawn from the MotoGP event.
Sources: The Race.