The Qatar Grand Prix is facing substantial opposition within the MotoGP grid. Riders reportedly held a closed meeting at Phillip Island on Thursday, before the Australian Grand Prix, where they voted on travelling to Qatar in early November for the championship’s 20th round. Around two-thirds of those involved are said to have voted against going ahead with the race.

That vote has not changed the published calendar. MotoGP continues to insist that the event will run on 6–8 November, after the round was moved from its original April date because of the conflict in the region. Lusail Circuit said earlier this week that preparations for the November events had reached their final stages. Formula 1 has likewise maintained that its Middle East races will proceed, although other motorsport championships have cancelled regional events or relocated them because of the uncertainty.

Safety remains the central concern for the riders. Iran-backed Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, alongside a growing number of government travel warnings for the region, have increased the pressure around the trip. Most riders questioned on Thursday said they would be prepared to travel to Qatar if their safety could be guaranteed. The conditions behind such a guarantee, however, are shaped by events beyond MotoGP’s direct control.

Broadcaster plans are also shifting

The uncertainty is already affecting television operations. Several MotoGP broadcasters are considering skipping the journey to Qatar if the race goes ahead. Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport is thought to be revising its plans, while TNT Sport is expected to work from a London studio rather than send a crew to the circuit; Neil Hodgson discussed that arrangement in Australia. Any further escalation could severely disrupt regional airspace, as happened earlier this year. Qatar is followed just one week later by the Portimao/Valencia double-header, leaving little room for a late change while the championship battle is expected to reach the final round.