Iwata(Japan), Nov 1 (AP) MotoGP team Yamaha said Sunday it will not race in the Qatar Grand Prix next weekend

Iwata(Japan), Nov 1 (AP) MotoGP team Yamaha said Sunday it will not race in the Qatar Grand Prix next weekend

Iwata(Japan), Nov 1 (AP) MotoGP team Yamaha said Sunday it will not race in the Qatar Grand Prix next weekend

Iwata(Japan), Nov 1 (AP) MotoGP team Yamaha said Sunday it will not race in the Qatar Grand Prix next weekend over safety concerns in the Middle East.

    The Japanese team said in a statement that it assessed the situation and made its decision independently from MotoGP Group and the event organiser.     The race was scheduled to be held from Friday to Sunday at Lusail International Circuit.

    “Following its latest assessment of the situation in the Middle East, Yamaha has not identified sufficient grounds to change its existing company-wide travel restrictions,” Yamaha racing said. “As a result, Yamaha has informed MotoGP Group about its decision not to participate in the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix.”

    Following the Qatar GP there are two races left this month in Portugal and Spain.

    “Yamaha remains fully committed to MotoGP and looks forward to returning to competition at the Portuguese Grand Prix,” the team said.

    Several riders are reportedly pushing to call off next week's race.

    In March, Formula 1 and its governing body, the FIA, called off Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April because of safety concerns related to the Iran war.

    The cancellations came as Iran struck both countries in its response to US and Israeli airstrikes.

    Losing two races in lucrative Middle East markets was a financial hit to F1 and its teams.

    The F1 season is scheduled to finish with races in Qatar on Nov. 29 and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 6. (AP)

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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)