MotoGP boss says it will be 'very difficult' for Qatar GP to go ahead, adding to F1 doubts

[p]The night race at ‌the Lusail circuit outside Doha is scheduled from April 10-12, the same weekend that ‌Formula 1 is due to race in nearby Bahrain.[/p][p]Formula 1 has said it is monitoring the situation in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, ‌which hosts a grand prix in Jeddah the weekend after.[/p][p]US and ‌Israeli attacks on Iran have closed airports in the region, including Bahrain and Doha, while Iranian missiles have targeted Gulf capitals.[/p][p]Ezpeleta, who runs MotoGP's commercial ‌rights holder, told Spanish media there was always ⁠a Plan B.[/p][p][b]"We have to ‌wait, I cannot say now that we are not going. We have been ​talking to Qatar since what happened on Sunday. From there, we will take a decision,"[/b] the Spaniard added.[/p][p][b]"But it's difficult ​for us to go to Qatar on April 12... it's very difficult. Going somewhere else, surely not."[/b][/p][p]Ezpeleta indicated Qatar could be rescheduled ⁠for later in the ​year, a decision already taken by the World Endurance Championship that has postponed its Qatar season-opener to an unspecified date.[/p][p][b]"We're excellent at creating calendars," [/b]he joked. [b]"We'll know something soon, obviously, but I can't say anything ‌right now. We'll make a decision as quickly as possible.[/b][/p][p]"Right now, we're going to Brazil and then to the United States, so there's still time."[/p][p]MotoGP started its season in Thailand last weekend and next has back-to-back rounds in Goiania, Brazil, and Austin's Circuit of the Americas.[/p][p][b]World champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marquez-marc/UPhfij2b/"]Marc Marquez[/a], appearing at the same event for sponsor Estrella Galicia, said the race was of secondary importance to what was happening in the region.[/b][/p][p][b]"Even if the Qatar GP isn't held, ‌it doesn't matter,"[/b] said the Spaniard.[/p][p]Formula 1 is kicking off its championship ​in Australia this weekend, with races after that in China ‌and Japan.[/p][p]Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) has said it is still too early to assess the impact of the situation on a race weekend that ranks as the country's biggest international sporting event.[/p][p]"From an operational perspective, BIC continues its planning for the race weekend and ⁠our dedicated team and offices ⁠at the circuit are ‌working to that effect," organisers said in a statement.[/p]