It was expected, and now it's official. The Qatar Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April 10-12, has been postponed to the end of the year, specifically November 8.This means that the Portuguese Grand Prix is postponed to November 22nd and the Valencian Community Grand Prix to November 29th. Global geopolitics directly impacts the MotoGP paddock, and today's significant decision by the highest motorcycle governing bodies considerably alters the championship.
As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, the countries surrounding Iran are directly impacted by the ongoing war.As a result, numerous countries, including Qatar—a US ally—Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have been targeted by Iranian missiles. Faced with this situation, MotoGP could not remain inactive. While Formula 1, also owned by Liberty Media, decided to cancel the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix outright, the Qatar Grand Prix was also cancelled. MotoGP has been moved to the end of the season provisionally.
BREAKING: #QatarGP 🇶🇦 postponed to 8 November due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
As a result, the #PortugueseGP and the #ValenciaGP will respectively take place on 22 and 29 November #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/a3NRfEEwVH
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 15, 2026
This completely changes the face of the calendar. As it stands, Qatar would therefore arrive at the end of the season, after the second overseas tour and the Malaysian Grand Prix, of the 6th and the 8th of NovemberPortimao would be visited from 20th and the 22th of November, while the Valencian Community Grand Prix, traditionally held at the end of the season, would be contested from 27th and the 29th of November.
Qatar under threat
This means two things: as things stand and pending further information regarding the conflict, the end of the season would be extremely busy; on the other hand, a break of almost a month would separate the United States Grand Prix, scheduled for Austin from March 27 to 29, and the Spanish Grand Prix, on the calendar from April 24 to 26. This is not the first time that the drivers will race in Qatar at the end of the season: in 2023, for example, Losail had been the scene of a late race, where Jorge Martin had huge tire problems, and where Fabio Di Giannantonio had won right under the nose of the future world champion Pecco Bagnaia.
What do you think of this radical change to the schedule? Tell us in the comments!
Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
