Marquez eyes 10th MotoGP title at Lusail as Yamaha withdraws from Qatar GP

Marc Marquez has the first chance to secure a tenth World Championship at the Qatar Grand Prix, Round 20 of the 2026 MotoGP season. The event was postponed from April to November due to regional instability, and at least four riders are absent from the grid. Marquez leads the standings by 44 points from Jorge Martin, with Marco Bezzecchi 67 points back and Pedro Acosta 104 points adrift.

Marquez can clinch the title by outscoring Martin by 30 points across the weekend while also finishing 8 points ahead of Bezzecchi, or 7 points ahead if he wins on Sunday. Martin, who withdrew from the Malaysian Grand Prix after FP2, is expected to attempt a return at Lusail.

Yamaha, the most successful manufacturer at the circuit with 10 wins, has boycotted the event citing company-wide travel policy restrictions. Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, Jack Miller and Augusto Fernandez will all be absent, while Jake Dixon replaces Joan Mir at Honda HRC.