MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta defended the decision to hold the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix in Qatar, citing enhanced security arrangements with the host nation. He said the paddock experienced normal conditions despite regional tensions, and that safety protocols were followed, according to Motorcycle Sports.
“Everyone’s safety is always at the heart of all our decisions, and from there, we follow the protocols and work at the level we have to,” Ezpeleta said, according to Motorcycle Sports.
MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta said the series was “better protected” in Qatar than in any other country, citing security arrangements made with the host nation for the Nov. 17-19 race weekend.
The race weekend passed without incident, though Yamaha opted out of the event due to internal travel restrictions. Ezpeleta said any penalty for Yamaha’s absence is a matter for the FIM, the sport’s governing body.
The defense of the Qatar race follows a period of friction between MotoGP management and riders. An anonymous rider accused Ezpeleta of “shouting” at riders during heated discussions over whether to race, according to Motorcycle Sports. Yamaha hosted crucial riders’ meetings in Malaysia after MotoGP bosses failed to provide a venue, and reports indicated riders faced potential bans if they skipped the race without a “valid” reason.
Ezpeleta dismissed critics who called the race “irresponsible.”
“Everyone has the right to their opinion, and I don’t think I’m going to change it,” he said, according to Motorcycle Sports.
He said the paddock realized “life here is absolutely normal,” countering concerns about the Middle East conflict.
Ezpeleta acknowledged the public discourse was noisy but said, “We tried to address their concerns as best we could, and here we are this weekend.”
He stressed the need for better internal communication: “We can do a better job by all of us working together more closely on communication, both with the teams and the drivers.”
Ezpeleta rejected any notion of a fractured relationship with riders.
“But there’s no need to rebuild a relationship because the relationship, of course, isn’t broken,” he said. “Of course, we need each other, and we always stand up for the riders and explain how great they are and how incredible what they do is.”
The decision to hold the Qatar Grand Prix came amid regional tensions that have affected the broader Middle East. Ezpeleta cited the 2024 calendar adjustment when flooding forced the Valencia race to be relocated to Barcelona, underscoring that safety takes priority over sporting considerations.
The Losail International Circuit hosted the race as scheduled, with the rest of the grid lining up for what MotoGP management saw as a routine event.
The Qatar Grand Prix has been a fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 2004, with the Losail circuit hosting night races under floodlights. The 2024 event marked the latest edition of the race amid an evolving security environment in the region.
MotoGP officials said the enhanced security measures in Qatar were coordinated with state authorities, according to Motorcycle Sports. The series is scheduled to continue its 2024 season with upcoming rounds, with the next race set for the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
