Qatar MotoGP could see record-low 13-rider grid after Yamaha withdrawal
Qatar's grid could be the smallest in history (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
The Qatar Grand Prix could break MotoGP’s record for the lowest ever race turnout, despite Yamaha’s rivals not yet joining them in a boycott.
Hours after the end of the Malaysian Grand Prix on November 1, the Japanese manufacturer announced that it would not be travelling to the next event over security concerns surrounding the war in the Middle East.
Yamaha withdrawal leaves four empty places on Qatar Grand Prix grid
Their withdrawal concerns both the factory Yamaha team of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, plus satellite outfit Pramac Yamaha, which fields Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
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Given the amount of behind-the-scenes dissent which has begun leaking into the public, more manufacturers were expected to follow Yamaha’s lead in pulling out of the event.
The other four brands are yet to do so, leaving MotoGP four riders down from protests as things stand.
However, more riders will be absent for other reasons, and such a low turnout could be record-breaking.
Alex Marquez confirms absence as injury doubts mount
Gresini Racing’s Alex Marquez has been very vocal against racing in Qatar and has now announced he won’t be going, but for other reasons.
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The 2025 riders’ championship runner-up will be undergoing shoulder surgery on a plate from a crash earlier this season and will return for the penultimate round in Portugal.
That’s not the only issue at Gresini, who have been without Fermin Aldeguer for the last two rounds, and it’s not yet known whether he will be back for Qatar as he continues to suffer with a fractured hand.
Similarly, Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez is another unknown, having retired from the Malaysian Grand Prix with pain from a broken finger he sustained during the previous round in Indonesia.
Like Fernandez, 2020 MotoGP champion Joan Mir also retired in Sepang due to an ongoing issue.
The Spaniard missed four rounds with an unconfirmed issue and suffered from dizziness upon his return in Malaysia, causing him to drop out of Sunday’s race early.
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Martin has huge championship decision to make
The final name who is doubtful is the biggest of them all - Jorge Martin - who remains in the title fight.
The 2024 world champion broke his wrist battling with leader Marc Marquez in Australia, and tried to return to action six days later in Sepang.
He called time on that comeback attempt during Saturday’s qualifying run, citing pain and issues with braking.
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Martin may well be keen to take another risk with the championship on the line, but now the gap to Marquez has extended to 44 points, and there will be questions over whether his health is worth the gamble.
| Rider | Out or Doubtful | Reason |
| Fabio Quatararo | Out | Safety concerns |
| Alex Rins | Out | Safety concerns |
| Jack Miller | Out | Safety concerns |
| Toprak Razgatlioglu | Out | Safety concerns |
| Alex Marquez | Out | Shoulder surgery |
| Fermin Aldeguer | Doubtful | Broken hand |
| Joan Mir | Doubtful | Unknown/dizziness |
| Raul Fernandez | Doubtful | Broken finger |
| Jorge Martin | Doubtful | Broken wrist |
Qatar Grand Prix could break unwanted MotoGP record
Combining all of those injury doubts with Yamaha’s four withdrawals, the 22-man grid is reduced to just 13.
Such a figure would be record-breaking for MotoGP, with the previous low being 14 entrants at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.
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Substitute riders may mitigate some of those numbers, but in various situations like Mir at Honda, contracted test riders are also unavailable through injury.
So far it looks like Yamaha won’t be joined in their boycott of the race, but nevertheless, the Qatar Grand Prix could see one of the strangest-looking grids in the sport’s history.
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