The conflict between MotoGP riders and management may have just reached a new level. According to revelations by journalist Simon Patterson of The Race, a majority of riders reportedly voted against participating in the Qatar Grand Prix before involving a lawyer with the teams. With less than two weeks until the Losail race, the question is no longer simply whether safety conditions will be met. It has also become a question of the riders' actual power over the organizers.
Phillip Island: a secret meeting and a decisive vote
On Thursday evening, on the sidelines of the Australian Grand Prix , the drivers met to discuss their participation in the Qatar round, scheduled for November 6-8 . According to Simon Patterson, the vote resulted in a particularly clear outcome: 15 votes against 5 for traveling to Qatar.
The journalist reported this result, but it has not been officially confirmed. This discrepancy contrasts sharply with the caution publicly displayed by much of the panel.
At Phillip Island , several drivers preferred to shift the responsibility for the decision to the organizers, without openly expressing their reservations. But behind the scenes, the discussions reportedly took a completely different turn.
Dorna caught in its own contractual argument?
According to Patterson, the drivers have hired a lawyer to send letters to the various teams expressing their opposition to the move. This initiative directly addresses an argument recently put forward by Carlos Ezpeleta.
When questioned about consulting the drivers, the executive pointed out that the promoter had contractual relationships with the teams, not directly with their drivers . This institutional distinction could now backfire on the organization.
Since the teams are the contractual interlocutors of the promoter, the drivers would have chosen to raise their opposition through this channel.
One major unknown remains: the exact legal scope of these letters. Their full content is not public, and sending them does not automatically mean that a collective boycott has been officially launched.
A demand that goes beyond Qatar
The crisis comes at a time when several riders have long been calling for independent collective representation. Enea Bastianini, in particular, highlighted the imbalance of power between the teams, the organizers, and the competitors. Francesco Bagnaia also spoke in favor of an association capable of defending their interests.
Qatar could therefore accelerate a movement that has so far lacked any real institutional expression. Moreover , concerns extend beyond safety during races. Drivers are demanding guarantees regarding potential evacuations , airspace closures, and the conditions for repatriating the entire paddock. These are all issues that cannot be resolved simply by homologating a circuit.
Ducati, Yamaha, Honda: MotoGP teams face their responsibilities
This move would now place manufacturers and teams in a difficult position. On one hand, their sporting and commercial commitments to the championship. On the other, the concerns expressed by their drivers.
The final positions of the various teams remain to be clarified. Davide Tardozzi recently criticized some riders for not expressing their reservations publicly with the same candor as Marc Marquez.
Patterson's revelations now suggest that part of the group may have chosen a different method: fewer statements, more collective pressure.
A MotoGP championship that could take a turn off the track
This confrontation takes place in an exceptional sporting context. Following the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix, Marc Marquez maintains a ten-point lead over Jorge Martin . The potential cancellation of the Qatar round would further reduce the opportunities to separate the title contenders.
But the stakes go beyond the standings. For the first time in this crisis, the pilots seem willing to transform their anxieties into action.
So, what do we remember?
- Vote: according to The Race15 pilots reportedly refused to travel to Qatar, compared to five in favor.
- Legal offensive: letters were allegedly sent to the teams by a lawyer.
- The issue at stake: security in Qatar could become the catalyst for a genuine collective representation of pilots.
Dorna explained that it had no contract with the riders. The riders reportedly found a solution: to contact those who did have contracts directly. It remains to be seen whether the teams will agree to take their voices to the next level.
