Most MotoGP riders reportedly vote against Qatar Grand Prix in secret meeting

Two-thirds of the MotoGP riders who took part in a secret meeting at Phillip Island voted against racing in the Qatar Grand Prix, according to a report by The Race. The vote was held on the idea of travelling to Qatar for the 20th round of the season.

Crash.net, which relayed the report, said the meeting was held on Thursday ahead of the Australian Grand Prix and involved all of the riders. It said the vote came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East due to the conflict between Iran and the US. Crash.net also reported that MotoGP insists the race will go ahead.

What we know

• Crash.net reported that The Race's MotoGP journalist, Simon Patterson, said two-thirds of those involved in the meeting voted against racing in Qatar.
• Crash.net reported that the Qatar Grand Prix was originally scheduled for April before it was postponed to the weekend of 6-8 November due to the Iran war.
• According to Crash.net, MotoGP and its Liberty-owned sister series, Formula 1, have remained adamant that their Middle East races will go ahead as planned, and the Lusail circuit said earlier this week that it was in the final stages of its preparations.
• Crash.net reported that most of the riders asked about going to Qatar on Thursday said they were happy to go if their safety was guaranteed.
• Crash.net said Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, and that more world governments are issuing advice against travelling to the region, including Qatar.

What we don't know yet

• Crash.net said it is unclear whether the vote will have any impact on MotoGP's decision-making.
• Crash.net said a guarantee of rider safety is ultimately out of MotoGP's hands, with US president Donald Trump threatening an escalation in strikes against Iran following next week's mid-term elections. The report does not say whether any such guarantee has been sought or offered.
• Crash.net said the Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport is thought to be altering its Qatar plans, and that the UK broadcaster TNT Sport looks set to skip Qatar, with Neil Hodgson noting on Friday in Australia that a studio in London would be used instead. The report words both points tentatively.
• The report does not give the number of riders who attended the meeting or the exact tally of the vote, only the two-thirds share reported by The Race.