MotoGP Postpones Qatar Grand Prix Due To Middle East Conflict
MotoGP announced on Sunday that the Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for next month, has been postponed until November due to conflicts in the Middle East.
The Lusail International Circuit was scheduled to host the fourth round of the 2026 championship from April 10-12 but has now been rescheduled for November 8, organizers said in a statement.
US-Israeli attacks on Iran have affected countries in the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs and causing the cancellation of many sporting events.
“MotoGP has confirmed that the Qatar Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed to 8 November due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East,” the statement said.
“Following extensive scenario planning and calendar analysis, the revised date was chosen to ensure minimal disruption to the wider MotoGP calendar.”
Organizers added that the Portuguese Grand Prix will now be held on 22 November and the season finale in Valencia will be moved to 29 November.
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship after the first round in Thailand. The next two races will be held in Brazil (March 20-22) and the United States (March 27-29).
The conflict has also affected Formula 1, with the sport announcing on Saturday that races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not be held in April.
