Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP have confirmed that the Qatar Grand Prix will be rescheduled to 6-8 November, and fans are not too happy with the decision.
With the ongoing situation in the Middle East, several motorsport categories have been cancelling events in the region. The opening round of the World Endurance Championship in Qatar has been cancelled, as have the Formula 1 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.
MotoGP was certain to follow suit, and sure enough, on Sunday, it was confirmed that the Qatar Grand Prix will be moved from April to November. The decision has caused a stir amongst fans as the calendar has been reshuffled.
A new date for the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix has been confirmed
Qatar will now be the final race of a triple header after Australia and Malaysia. The final two races of the season in Portimao and Valencia will be moved back by a week, now scheduled for 20-22 November and 27-29 November.
It was rumoured that MotoGP could move Qatar to December, which would have marked the first season to end in the month. However, Formula 1 made that proposition ‘impossible’ due to the changes the track would need to make after their race on November 29.
MotoGP fans call for the Qatar Grand Prix to be cancelled
Fans were not happy with the decision on social media, given how difficult the calendar changes have made it for spectators. With the changing dates, some may not be able to attend the races in Portugal and Valencia, while crowds in Qatar are usually quite low.
Many fans expressed frustration on Reddit, with one saying: “They’re moving two races, causing enormous difficulties to the organisers and the fans that were planning the trip to go watch them, all in order to not cancel a race that always had empty grandstands. Nice.”
Another said: “Bloody stupid idea, just cancel it. There’s no way anyone is flying into Qatar this year let alone racing there. Needless disruption of Portugal & Valencia races to hold hope for something that is not going to happen.”
“Qatar money is too much to pass by,” said one user, with the nation being one of MotoGP’s biggest backers. Another called for the sport to “just cancel it. Anything will change.”
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were also in agreement: “Why don’t they just cancel it and avoid the hassle? Delaying Portimao and Valencia to almost December seems like madness to me. It’ll be colder, and there will be fans who already have tickets and accommodation booked,” while another wrote: “Just cancel it.”
READ MORE: The most successful MotoGP teams at the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail
MotoGP ruled out replacing the Qatar Grand Prix
While fans have expressed frustration over the rescheduling of the Qatar GP, it was the only option MotoGP were willing to explore.
Carmelo Ezpeleta ruled out replacing Qatar from the calendar entirely, instead saying that it would be moved to a later date.
Argentina was interested in replacing Qatar on the calendar, but with the announcement that the race at the Lusail International Circuit will take place in November, those rumours have been crushed.
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