As Speedcafe reports, Yamaha has delivered a stunning blow to the championship by announcing a company-wide decision not to participate in the upcoming Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail. The bombshell dropped just hours after the checkered flag fell at the Grand Prix of Malaysia in Sepang, setting off a massive crisis for the series.
The third-to-last round of the championship is scheduled for November 6-8. It has faced intense scrutiny from teams and riders over safety assurances. Yamaha's refusal to race extends directly to its satellite team Pramac, meaning Jack Miller will sit out the event entirely. Instead of heading to the Middle East, the Australian rider plans to fly home to Townsville on Monday.
I don’t want to go. Like everybody. There’s 19 of us that don’t want to go there,
In an official statement, Yamaha pointed to its ongoing corporate-wide travel restrictions following its latest assessment of the situation in the Middle East, noting it has not identified sufficient grounds to change them. The manufacturer stated that it informed MotoGP Group of its choice not to participate in the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix, emphasizing that the decision is independent of measures implemented by the event organizer and MotoGP Group. Yamaha also made it clear that it remains fully committed to MotoGP and expects to return to competition at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
MotoGP responded swiftly and sharply to the news. While expressing disappointment, the championship organizers stated that they do not believe Yamaha's decision reflects the extensive assurances provided to stakeholders after consultations with the State of Qatar, Lusail International Circuit, independent safety advisers, and ongoing risk assessment processes. MotoGP confirmed that the remainder of the grid—including the three other manufacturers, Honda, Ducati, and Aprilia—will travel to Qatar and race as planned. Honda specifically noted that it has been working closely with riders and MotoGPSEG to ensure the weekend proceeds for Round 20 of the MotoGP World Championship.
Behind closed doors, the paddock has been boiling over. Riders reportedly held secret meetings inside Yamaha’s facilities at Sepang during the weekend to discuss their deep concerns in private, ultimately delivering a letter to MotoGP organisers opposing the race. According to reports, all but three riders signed the document despite the threat of sporting or financial sanctions being imposed by MotoGP. Yamaha itself could now face sporting or financial consequences from MotoGP for its boycott, with any fallout to be managed by the FIM under championship regulations.
Miller was fiercely outspoken on Sunday at Sepang before Yamaha's announcement, making no secret of his reluctance to travel. "I don’t want to go. Like everybody. There’s 19 of us that don’t want to go there," Miller said. Pointing to the unpredictable security situation and regional tensions compounded by upcoming mid-term elections in the United States, Miller questioned the wisdom of putting on a global event amid such uncertainty. "We’ve made our opinion very clear on that. We’ll see what the decision is," he added.
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