MotoGP: Ezpeleta admits unnecessary exposure over Qatar GP

Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP's sporting director, acknowledged on 10 November 2026 that the promoter had "exposed" itself unnecessarily around the Qatar Grand Prix, held at Lusail. He announced corrections without detailing them, and the question of a sanction for Yamaha, absent from the weekend, remains open.

What Carlos Ezpeleta said

According to Paddock GP, Carlos Ezpeleta insists that the stars of MotoGP are the riders and will remain so. He described a self-evaluation on three fronts: the organisers, the teams and the riders. He admitted that the media attention around the event exposed the championship unnecessarily and that this point has to be corrected. No specific measure has been given so far.

Yamaha: no public decision

Yamaha did not travel to Qatar, applying its internal travel policy for the Middle East amid uncertainty linked to the war in Iran. According to Crash.net, MotoGP describes its relationship with the manufacturer as a commercial contract that it cannot debate publicly. Carlos Ezpeleta confirms that talks with Yamaha will take place and that any decision will be communicated.

The split of roles is clear:

• contractual consequences are a matter for MotoGP Group;
• any sporting sanctions, which could go as far as race bans, fall to the FIM, which has not reacted;
• no definitive sanction has been announced to date.

A reduced grid and a protest letter

Of the 22 riders on the grid, 19 had signed a letter contesting the event because of the regional security situation. Eighteen bikes were entered in Qatar; sixteen finally lined up for the Sunday race after two further withdrawals. The race passed without safety incidents, but the disagreement between riders and promoter remains.

Paddock GP notes that nothing suggests Carlos Ezpeleta is considering disciplinary restrictions aimed at the riders. A tightening could instead come through better-controlled communication, stronger internal procedures or a reorganised consultation of riders. The site also stresses that an overly harsh response could backfire on the promoter, since the protest has revived the idea of independent collective representation for riders.

What to remember

The Qatar GP did take place, but it leaves three files open: the nature of the corrections Carlos Ezpeleta has promised, the decision on Yamaha and the future of relations between riders and MotoGP. Karrazmotorsport will follow the official announcements from the promoter and the FIM.

The editorial team