JAKARTA - The implementation of the 2026 Qatar MotoGP race is threatened with not being able to be carried out on time due to the still hot situation following the attacks from the United States and Israel against Iran since last weekend.
The Lusail International Circuit is scheduled to host the first round of the 2026 WEC season on March 28, 2026 before the fourth race series of the MotoGP event is held there on April 12, 2026.
MotoGP CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, admitted that the holding of the Qatar MotoGP was doubtful to be held according to schedule due to the conflict that was raging in Iran and automatically disturbing various countries around it, especially Qatar.
"We have to wait. I can't say now that we won't race there. We have been talking to Qatar since Sunday, March 1, 2026. We will make a decision," he said as quoted by Crash.
Qatar is one of the countries that were affected by the war. Their international airport in Doha, which is an international flight center (hub), has even been closed due to the great risk.
Ezpeleta stressed that they still have other plans so that the race there can still be held even though it is not in accordance with the initial schedule. He also dismissed the possibility of appointing another location to replace Qatar.
"Moving to another place? Of course not. Will it fit the schedule? We are very good at making schedules. We will know soon, of course. We are waiting for them to tell us something. There is still time," he said.
The situation in Iran has caused various international flights to be delayed. Previously, more than a thousand Formula One (F1) team staff for the Australian Grand Prix had to change their travel plans due to this conflict.
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev was also stuck in Dubai before he was reported to have arrived in California, USA, to take part in Indian Wells 2026.
Then, several badminton players were also forced to miss the 2026 All England because they could not continue their journey to England.
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