One week before the Qatar GP, the drivers are raising their voices: "There are 19 of us who don't want to go"
منتشرشده: · بهروزرسانی: · ایران
## Jack Miller defends the position of the MotoGP riders who do not want to go to Qatar for the race on November 8, but laments their powerlessness in the face of the situation.
Jack Miller defends the position of the MotoGP riders who do not want to go to Qatar for the race on November 8, but laments their powerlessness in the face of the situation.
Just days before they are due to fly to Doha for the Qatar Grand Prix, the unease persists within the MotoGP paddock. Originally scheduled for April and then postponed to November due to the armed conflict in the Middle East, the Qatari round is raising fears of an escalation of tensions in the region. The majority of paddock members are against the idea of holding a race in a war-torn area. While the Qatari authorities and the championship promoter have provided every possible security guarantee, most riders remain reluctant to travel to Lusail.
Until then, however, they had remained cautious in front of the press. But after the Malaysian Grand Prix, as attention turned to the next round of the calendar, Jack Miller summed up the general unease within the field with his usual candor: "I don't want to go," he told reporters on Sunday. "Like everyone else. There are 19 of us who don't want to go. I don't think we should be racing in these conditions. We've made our opinion very clear." These remarks were made before Yamaha officially announced its decision not to go to Qatar. The Iwata factory was the first of the five manufacturers to make such an announcement.
Officially, MotoGP, having received full security guarantees from the local government responsible for determining the site's safety for hosting an event, does not intend to cancel the Qatar Grand Prix. However, these statements surely conceal undisclosed financial considerations and the likely fear of having to foot the bill for a cancellation.
Facing the promoter, Miller explained that the drivers had united to make their voices heard, but without success. “We threatened as best we could with the ammunition we had. Not just for ourselves, but also for everyone else in the championship. If you talk to 50% of the paddock, nobody wants to go. They don't understand why we have to.” The Australian acknowledged the guarantees provided by the Qatari government, but felt they were insufficient. As mentioned earlier, it was revealed a few moments later that he would not be attending!
Quartararo, cautious in his speech
Fabio Quartararo, like many others, has chosen the path of discretion. When questioned about his participation in Qatar, the Frenchman confirmed his presence but refused to elaborate. "Yes, I'm going. I'm going home first, then I'll leave on Wednesday," he stated. " I won't talk about Qatar. Sorry, but I don't want to get myself into trouble; I'm playing it safe. I'm a pro at getting myself into sticky situations, so I want to avoid that happening again. Sometimes I talk too much and it causes me problems, so this time, I'm keeping quiet." This statement already hinted at his preference for a cancellation. Yamaha has now released a statement with contradictory information, announcing that the team—and therefore Fabio Quartararo—will not be going to Qatar.
Johann Zarco, for his part, takes a more nuanced stance. While Miller reports 19 riders opposed to holding the race in Qatar, the Frenchman is among those who intend to go. He thus acknowledges the official position of the Qatari authorities: "The current situation is normal in Qatar. At least, that's what we're told. It's difficult not to believe the local government, which assures us that everything is fine," he explained to Canal+. "Embassies advise against going there for tourism. But for compelling reasons, it's possible. And to cancel this Grand Prix, we would have to wait for a case of force majeure, which hasn't happened yet."
Zarco also mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the US midterm elections, scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd. "Many riders are wondering what will happen afterward. Things might change after that, perhaps. Qatar assures us they won't. We'll see." While he isn't worried about his physical safety, the Honda rider fears a logistical blockage. "I'm afraid of being stuck on the return trip if the airspace is closed."
Álex Márquez, a calculated withdrawal from the Qatar GP?
Gresini rider Álex Márquez has already announced that he will not be making the trip. The Spaniard, however, has a good reason for not competing in the Qatar Grand Prix. After the Malaysian Grand Prix, he indicated that he would undergo surgery on his clavicle in Barcelona this Monday, due to inflammation of the plate implanted after his injury in Barcelona. "With ten laps to go, I started to suffer a lot," explained Marc's younger brother. " Doing three GPs in a row was impossible for me, so I decided to have the surgery tomorrow and not go to Qatar. I will be at home; I won't comment on the matter."
Following this announcement, speculation is rife regarding the timing of this operation and whether the Spaniard could have timed it precisely to avoid going to Doha. Indeed, a valid excuse is needed to avoid going to Qatar, otherwise sanctions could be imposed. In his comments, Jack Miller alluded to the pressure drivers could face if they refuse to go. According to him, the reprisals could take several forms: financial, sporting, or even affecting the teams themselves.
“They can attack us in any way they want,” laments number 43. “Carlos Ezpeleta is a great friend of mine. Do I want to hurt him or his team? No. But at the same time, I don’t think we should be forced to race if we don’t want to.” He concludes: “Ultimately, it’s not up to us. Unfortunately, we’re just numbers in this game.”
Besides the riders, numerous broadcasters have already decided not to attend, including Canal+, which holds the television rights in France. The teams – except for Yamaha – will do so with a skeleton crew if they do travel to Qatar for the Grand Prix. While the promoter's position remains firm in the face of the riders' opposition, the event's status remains highly uncertain. A contrary decision could be made at any moment, whether triggered by an escalation of violence in the conflict or by a stronger boycott from paddock members. It's worth noting that Formula 1 has also opted to go to Qatar at the end of November and is currently maintaining a position similar to that of MotoGP.
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