News Summary
- Lusail International Circuit has reportedly circulated emergency guidance covering the circuit, hotels, outdoor areas and vehicles.
- The guide tells paddock personnel where to shelter, when to leave and how to report debris after an incident.
- MotoGP is proceeding with the November 6–8 event after a security review. Yamaha’s factory and Pramac teams have withdrawn.
Riders and staff arriving for the Qatar Grand Prix have been given a seven-point guide on what to do if an attack alert is issued during the MotoGP weekend, according to a document reported on Thursday by journalist Mat Oxley. The guidance, circulated by Lusail International Circuit, covers situations the paddock could face away from the track as well as at the venue, including an alert at a hotel or while travelling by car.
The document describes how to find shelter and account for personnel after an incident. It gives paddock staff specific instructions for the weekend after weeks in which riders sought assurances over safety, insurance and emergency evacuation. The shelter guidance covers the immediate response to an alert. The riders’ earlier questions also extended to what would happen if airspace closed and personnel could not leave Qatar.
What the seven-point guide says
- Seek shelter immediately. The guide tells personnel to stay calm and move to cover without stopping at windows to look outside or film.
- At a hotel, take the stairs. Head to the hotel’s designated safe area. If there is no time to reach it, use an interior area on the same floor, away from windows. Anyone unable to leave their room is told to stay low on the side farthest from the window.
- At Lusail, use the building identified by the team. The guide directs staff to a solid structure and away from tents, exposed paddock areas and buildings with glass façades.
- Outdoors, seek the nearest building. If none is close enough, get low to the ground and protect your head.
- In a vehicle, stop and seek shelter. The guide directs occupants to the nearest building. If none is available, it tells them to move away from the vehicle, get low and protect their heads.
- Stay under cover. The document specifies at least 10 minutes or until an official all-clear, whichever is later.
- After an incident, report debris and check in. The guide tells personnel to leave debris untouched and unphotographed, notify local emergency services and contact their team or work group to confirm everyone is safe.
MotoGP keeps the race on the schedule
The race was originally scheduled for April and moved to November because of the conflict in the Middle East. At Sepang on Sunday, MotoGP management met the teams to review information from Qatari authorities, the circuit, embassies and independent experts. “These internal and external assessments continue to inform our ongoing risk review and decision-making process,” a MotoGP spokesperson told Reuters.
Yamaha’s factory and Pramac teams will miss the weekend under the manufacturer’s travel restrictions, taking four bikes out of the field. With several riders expected to reach Qatar later than usual, Thursday’s press conference was also moved back four hours to 20:00 local time. The published track schedule still lists MotoGP FP1 at 14:45 local time on Friday and Sunday’s Grand Prix at 19:00.
Formula 1 is due at Lusail three weeks later, on November 27–29. The championship has separately briefed its 11 teams on emergency departure scenarios for Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The shelter guidance reported on Thursday was circulated for the MotoGP weekend.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Qatar Grand Prix in MotoGP.
