Spoke to people from Honda, Ducati, Aprilia, KTM. Yamaha's announcement doesn't change their plans. All 4 manufacturers still going to Qatar.
Neil Morrison
@neilmorrison87.bsky.social
MotoGP reporter, commentator Bylines in: MCN, AMCN, Cycle News, Motomatters, Motocourse Speak on: @paddockpasspodcast.com
Just heard Izan Guevara & Alberto Ferrandez, Yamaha's Moto2 riders, were given the choice. Can go to Qatar if they want. Or can stay at home. Obviously Izan wants to travel, he's fighting for the Moto2 title. & rest of Moto2 team agreed so they're going.
MotoGP’s statement reacting to Yamaha’s Qatar withdrawal. ‘Contractual’ and ‘sporting implications’ incoming.
Wow. Yamaha withdraws from next weekend's Qatar GP.
Jack pretty outspoken on the Qatar issue. ‘I don’t want to go. There’s 19 of us that don’t. Don’t think we should be racing in those conditions. We made our complaint very clear. Wait & see what happens but my flight’s to Townsville tomorrow.’
Martin ‘frustrated, disappointed’ about Malaysian GP withdrawal. Flying back to Spain today to start recovery for Qatar. Trying to be positive: ‘1 year ago I didn’t know if I was going to be on a MotoGP bike. And here I am fighting for a championship. I’ll keep fighting.’
Just in from Aprilia: Jorge Martin will withdraw from the remainder of the Malaysian GP to continue his recovery from injury.
Marc super relaxed at the end of play. T15 crash aside, said Friday was ‘perfect.’ He knows it’s time to attack. ‘The championship’s in my hands, so I’ll try to be as close to 37 pts as possible.’
Few riders complaining about state of Sepang surface. Diggia: ‘It’s a motocross track now. You need to wear a chest protector.’ Stones causing lots of issues.
Pretty remarkable for Martin to even be here just 6 days on from breaking a bone in his right wrist, never mind out there riding.
Martin says his aim is to ‘see his feeling’ tomorrow morning on ‘whether to continue or not.’ ‘It’s the right hand, it’s a right corner circuit, so it doesn’t look good. But let’s see tomorrow.’
Just in from Aprilia: Jorge Martin declared fit to take part in FP1. He will be reviewed again after that.
Was in Adelaide on Tuesday to have a look around the proposed MotoGP track for 2027. A few observations.
South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas confirms the project to build a MotoGP circuit on the edge of Adelaide’s CBD just received federal clearance. Says for every tree cut down, 100 will be planted.
Tardozzi feels today was a missed opportunity for Ducati. But still remembers Foggy’s crash here in 2000 so safety always the priority. Says 3 of next 4 tracks should suit Aprilia. ‘But we have Marc Marquez. That’s something that relaxes us.’
Aprilia’s Rivola says it’s ’very, very difficult’ to imagine Martin racing at Sepang. Says it’s not a dramatic break in Jorge’s wrist. ‘Yesterday he provided a show that was amazing. But shit happens. We’re not really lucky with him but we won’t give up.’
Pit lane opening time pushed back to 16:00 for MotoGP. Moto2 officially been cancelled. Not looking massively promising.
Just in from Aprilia: Jorge Martin underwent a CT. Only confirmed injury is non-displaced fracture of distal radius. So won’t return to Spain for surgery. Could we see a return in Sepang?
Marc said he was so concentrated in the championship battle, he forgot where he was after Sprint finished. “I didn’t know where I was - Phillip Island or Mandalika. Then with the temperature, I knew.”
Ah, terrible news. Aprilia saying Martin’s fractured the radius in his right arm. Possible fracture of the ulna, too. That’s his championship over.
Marc's qualifying performance today up there with his very best at COTA '15 & Brno '19. Crashing on 1st flying lap before taking pole by 1.4s - and half a second faster than everyone bar Zarco in final sector. Mad.
Some serious moulding on Jorge Martin’s Aprilia RS-GP. Helps to maintain body position when cornering.
Only fitting there is a #27 racing at the final MotoGP race at Phillip Island.
Only fitting there is a #27 racing at the final MotoGP race at Phillip Islan
Marc’s Ducati has sprouted fresh aero attached to the swingarm. Using it in his final Practice run. First saw this on the factory Aprilias earlier this year.
