MotoGP Riders Hold Secret Meeting to Vote on Canceling Qatar GP Amid Safety Concerns

Tension surrounding motorsport racing in the Middle East is reaching a peak, with reports revealing that MotoGP riders held a secret meeting to vote on whether the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix should be canceled due to safety risks. The event was originally scheduled for April but was rescheduled to November 6-8, a change that the majority of the grid is reportedly unhappy about.

While at Phillip Island for the Australian GP, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi revealed details of the secret rider meeting to the press. According to GPOne, roughly two-thirds of the grid voted to cancel the Qatar round, with the faction favoring cancellation reportedly led by Marc Márquez. Speaking about the gathering, Bezzecchi stated that it was a very positive meeting where riders voiced their opinions maturely, though he admitted he did not know how much good it ultimately did given that MotoGP management has not broached the topic of canceling the event and historically dislikes criticism.

Reports also indicate that the secret meeting brought discussions surrounding the formation of a rider union back to the forefront. MotoGP has not yet commented on whether the riders’ vote will influence plans to proceed with the event in November.