Yamaha pulls out of Qatar MotoGP over ‘situation in the Middle East’

Yamaha has withdrawn its MotoGP team from next weekend’s race in Qatar, citing “the situation in the Middle East”.

The Japanese manufacturer announced its decision shortly after the Malaysian MotoGP race on Sunday.

“Yamaha has not identified sufficient grounds to change its existing company-wide travel restrictions,” Yamaha said in its statement.

Among the racers on the MotoGP grid riding Yamaha bikes is France’s Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 world champion. Alex Rins of Spain is the other racer on the Yamaha team.

The sport’s governing body, the MotoGP Group, said it was “disappointed” by the decision and said that “Yamaha’s non-participation also carries sporting implications”.

“While we recognise the team is subject to a broader corporate policy restricting travel to the Middle East, we do not believe this decision reflects the extensive assurances provided to all championship stakeholders,” it said.

MotoGP said talks with the organisers in Qatar, as well as safety advisers, had not flagged any reasons to change plans for the event, which will run from November 6-8 at the Lusail International Circuit outside Qatar’s capital Doha.

“We communicated that position, together with the latest available information, to all manufacturers and teams today and welcome the confirmation from the remainder of the grid that they will compete in Qatar, and we thank them for that commitment,” the MotoGP Group said.

The statements came shortly after the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang, after which there are just three races left in the season, starting in Qatar.

Ducati’s reigning seven-time world champion Marc Marquez won the race at Sepang and could clinch the title in Doha.

Al Jazeera has requested a comment from the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation.