The Qatar MotoGP round remains uncertain with the race scheduled in two weeks and conflict continuing in the Gulf region. Ducati has now framed Marc Marquez’s position as a demand for clear safety arrangements, rather than a refusal to take part.

During the Australian Grand Prix weekend, the riders held a private meeting to discuss whether they should travel to Qatar. They later sought guarantees from the organisers that the event could be run safely. Asked about Qatar on Thursday at Phillip Island, Marquez declined to comment. His silence was interpreted as a sign that he did not want to go, although he did not make that claim himself.

Tardozzi’s explanation

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi defended Marquez while criticising riders who make forceful comments in public but do not repeat them when speaking directly to the organisers. Tardozzi said Marquez had taken on the role of carrying the wider group’s concerns and had tried to mediate instead of pushing the discussion towards a dead end.

According to Tardozzi, Marquez’s request involved an evacuation plan, a plan B and full organisational preparation so that the riders could be kept safe. Ducati’s interpretation is therefore that Marquez did not say he would not go to Qatar. He asked, as others did, for a clear safety plan before the trip was made.