MotoGP Qatar GP
MotoGP working on rescheduling Qatar GP amid Iran war
MotoGP organisers have been forced to search for options due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Oriol Puigdemont
Published: Mar 14, 2026, 11:01 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Race start
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
The conflict involving the United States-Israel and Iran has led the organisers of the MotoGP World Championship to begin working on postponing the Qatar Grand Prix (MotoGP) and reconsidering the final stretch of the calendar.
The race at Lusail International Circuit still appears as the fourth round of the season and was originally scheduled for the weekend of April 11–12. However, the war that erupted in the Persian Gulf at the end of February has spread, affecting several countries in the region.
Several Iranian drones struck Hamad International Airport and a number of buildings across the city of Doha. As a result, MotoGP organisers have been forced to explore options to relocate the event, with the aim of moving it toward the final stages of the season.
Read Also:
Motorsport.com understands that the most likely option is to stage the race on the outskirts of Doha during the weekend of November 7–8. If the change is confirmed — something expected in the coming days — it would have several logistical implications and require adjustments to the dates of two other races.
Under this scenario, Qatar would become the final round of a triple-header alongside the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (October 25) and the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (November 1).
The weekend following the race at Lusail, November 14–15, had initially been reserved for the Portuguese Motorcycle Grand Prix in Portimão. However, that event would move back by one week, to November 21–22 — the slot originally scheduled for the championship finale in Valencia.
This change would push the season finale back by seven days, to the final weekend of November (November 28–29). Consequently, the official collective test with the 2027 prototypes would take place on Monday, November 30, or Tuesday, December 1.
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
MotoGP Sports Entertainment, the series’ commercial rights holder acquired last year by Liberty Media, typically tries to exhaust all options to relocate a race that cannot be held as planned before resorting to cancellation, given the complications such a move creates at every level.
Coincidentally, Liberty Media is facing an even more delicate situation in the Formula 1 World Championship, which was scheduled to visit Bahrain on April 12 and Saudi Arabia the following week. In both cases, cancellation currently appears to be the most likely outcome — a decision that would reduce the championship calendar from 24 events to 22.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article How the 2027 MotoGP grid is shaping up
Next article MotoGP postpones Qatar GP to November due to Middle East conflict
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Oriol Puigdemont
Jorge Martin planning MotoGP return at Malaysian GP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
18 h
Jorge Martin planning MotoGP return at Malaysian GP
Marc Marquez: 'In the first half of 2026, all I wanted to do on Sundays was lie on the sofa'
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
Marc Marquez: 'In the first half of 2026, all I wanted to do on Sundays was lie on the sofa'
Latest news
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
Kyle Busch Remembered: Rowdy's wildest and most impressive Talladega moments
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
Kyle Busch Remembered: Rowdy's wildest and most impressive Talladega moments
Lamborghini World Finals PRO-PRO/AM Race 2: Leitch/Stasi dominate to seal title
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
2 h
Lamborghini World Finals PRO-PRO/AM Race 2: Leitch/Stasi dominate to seal title
Toto Wolff reveals he is actively vetting “two or three people” to replace him at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Toto Wolff reveals he is actively vetting “two or three people” to replace him at Mercedes
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe