Marc Márquez’s first match point for an eighth premier-class world title arrives at Lusail this Sunday. He may be chasing it in front of the smallest MotoGP grid in a generation.
Nineteen of the 22 regular riders signed a letter at the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang asking organisers to call the Qatar round off. The championship said no.
In its reply, MotoGP said it was disappointed by Yamaha’s decision and insisted the race would go ahead after a fresh round of safety checks.
“Following consultation with the State of Qatar, Lusail International Circuit, independent safety advisers and MotoGP’s own ongoing risk assessment process, MotoGP has not received any information that would warrant a change to the current plans,” the organisation said.
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The championship also warned that Yamaha’s non-participation “carries sporting implications, with any sporting consequences to be managed by the FIM in accordance with the Championship regulations.”
Yamaha pulls its four bikes
Yamaha was the first factory to break ranks, announcing on 2 November that it would not race in Qatar on the basis of a company-wide travel policy linked to the security situation in the Middle East.
“Following its latest assessment of the situation in the Middle East, Yamaha has not identified sufficient grounds to change its existing company-wide travel restrictions,” the Japanese manufacturer said, according to Crash.net.
The decision takes factory riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins off the entry list, along with Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller and Augusto Fernández, as Al Jazeera reported. Ducati, Aprilia, KTM and Honda have all confirmed they will race at Lusail, according to Grande Prêmio.
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‘There’s 19 of us that don’t want to go’
Riders held private meetings at Yamaha’s facilities during the Malaysia weekend before delivering the letter to MotoGP on the Sunday at Sepang, Speedcafe reports.
Miller told reporters at Sepang that the position among the riders was close to unanimous.
“I don’t want to go. Like everybody. There’s 19 of us that don’t want to go there,” Miller said, as quoted by Speedcafe.
The three riders who reportedly did not sign are Marco Bezzecchi, Ai Ogura and Johann Zarco, per Grande Prêmio.
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A grid that could drop to 13
With Yamaha’s four already gone, Gresini’s Álex Márquez will miss Qatar after shoulder surgery, Grande Prêmio reports. Championship contender Jorge Martín (wrist), Raúl Fernández (finger fracture sustained at Mandalika), Fermín Aldeguer (hand) and Joan Mir are all travelling with fitness in doubt.
If each of the doubtful riders is ruled out without a replacement, the grid could fall to 13, the smallest MotoGP field since 2010, according to Grande Prêmio’s analysis.
Márquez’s match point
Marc Márquez leads the standings by 44 points from Jorge Martín and 67 from Marco Bezzecchi heading to Lusail, Motorsport Week reports.
To wrap it up this weekend, he needs to out-score Martín by 30 points and Bezzecchi by 8 across the sprint and the main race. The sprint alone cannot settle it; the first opportunity to clinch arrives in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
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An eighth premier-class crown would take him clear of Valentino Rossi’s record of seven. It would also be his tenth world title across all Grand Prix categories.
The main race is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November at Lusail International Circuit.
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