Yamaha had not decided by Wednesday whether it would contest the next Qatar MotoGP round, Alex Rins said at Sepang. By Thursday, the Spanish rider still did not know whether that position had changed because he had only just arrived at the circuit. The uncertainty concerns an event that has already been moved from its original place on the season calendar.

Qatar and MotoGP maintain that the event can currently go ahead safely. Riders are nevertheless seeking clear assurances about what would happen if renewed hostilities in the region led to an airspace closure. Evacuation procedures are among the main issues under discussion, giving the question a practical dimension beyond the decision to race.

Rins said the riders were more united than ever. He described meeting all of them in Australia and then speaking with their representatives, including Carmelo Ezpeleta. Separately, the Japanese government is advising its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Qatar, adding to the wider uncertainty around the trip.

MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta travelled to Doha after the Australian Grand Prix for further meetings about the race. Qatar had already been rescheduled from its original April date, pushing the Portimao and Valencia rounds back by one week. Cancellation would also affect the championship fight, in which Marc Marquez leads Jorge Martin by ten points.