MotoGP Riders Push for Safety Guarantees Ahead of Qatar Race

MotoGP riders have intensified their demands on the championship organizers ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, citing safety concerns as the primary issue. The riders, who have already expressed reluctance to travel to Losail, submitted a document to MGPSEG, the championship's commercial rights holder, during last week's Australian Grand Prix.

The document, signed by three-quarters of the grid, outlined five conditions that MGPSEG must meet to secure rider participation. These included an evacuation plan for all paddock personnel and comprehensive insurance coverage for any eventuality. The riders now insist that MGPSEG, not the Qat, should be responsible for these guarantees.

Riders met again on Friday to draft a new letter reaffirming their position and demanding that MGPSEG act as the guarantor for their travel to Doha. The letter was sent to MGPSEG representatives and teams with a deadline: unless written confirmation was received by 4pm on Sunday, the riders would not travel to Qatar.

On Sunday morning, team managers met with MGPSEG's CEO and deputy managing director to discuss contractual obligations. MGPSEG stated it had reviewed the latest information and assurances from Qatar, the Lusail International Circuit, and other relevant parties, and would continue to monitor developments.

Despite the riders' efforts, the teams, not the riders, are bound by contracts with the championship. Yamaha remains the only manufacturer yet to confirm its attendance in Qatar, citing an internal policy that prohibits employees from traveling to conflict zones. The company must decide whether to waive this policy for its MotoGP division.

The riders' unity has been tested, with the group that supported the Qatar trip in Australia now reduced to three in Malaysia. Riders have been warned of potential financial and sporting consequences for failing to appear at Losail, including possible FIM sanctions such as point deductions or suspensions.