Yamaha pulls out of Qatar MotoGP round over Middle East war

Yamaha will not go to the Qatar Grand Prix in MotoGP, the company announced on Sunday. Both the factory team and satellite squad Pramac will skip the round at Losail on 6-8 November, citing the security situation in the region and an internal travel ban.

Yamaha Motor Company has a clause in its contracts that lets it stop employees from travelling to war-affected areas. A last attempt by riders and teams to cancel the event failed. MotoGP's Carlos Ezpeleta visited Qatar and got assurances from the authorities about paddock safety. Yamaha says its decision is independent of the organisers' measures, and it aims to return at the Portuguese GP.

The standoff between MotoGP and the 11 teams on the grid has escalated. Motorsport.com reports that riders who skip the race could face sporting or financial sanctions, including a possible ban from the rounds in Portugal and Valencia. MotoGP has not yet responded.

• Round — 20th of the season
• Circuit — Losail International Circuit