MotoGP faces standoff as 19 riders oppose Qatar Grand Prix and Yamaha withdraws teams

Marc Marquez has a chance to win the MotoGP world title in Qatar this weekend, but the dispute over the race is likely to overshadow it. MotoGP is pressing ahead with plans to race in Qatar despite 19 of the 22 riders signing a letter saying they do not want to go. The standoff escalated over the Malaysian Grand Prix, with MotoGP threatening teams and riders with sanctions, and Yamaha announcing it would not send its teams to the Middle East.

MotoGP says it has guarantees from the Qatari government and is not changing its position, though the situation is described as being in constant flux. Concerns have been raised that renewed conflict between the US and Iran could close Qatari airspace and trap the paddock, which would almost certainly cancel the final two rounds in Portugal and Valencia.