The teams present for the Qatar MotoGP weekend received, according to journalist Mat Oxley, an emergency protocol outlining how to respond in the event of an attack at the Lusail Circuit or in other situations during their stay in the country.
The procedure underscores security concerns surrounding the event amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Yamaha chose not to participate in the weekend for safety reasons, while the other four manufacturers traveled to Qatar. Part of the press also opted to cover the event remotely.
The list, as revealed by Oxley, comprises seven directives for emergency situations. The central recommendation is to seek shelter immediately, without spending time observing what is happening or recording footage.
In hotels, the guidance is to use the stairs to reach the designated safe area and avoid elevators. If that location cannot be reached, team members should remain indoors, away from the windows. At the circuit, the recommendation is to proceed to the masonry building previously designated by each team, avoiding tents, open paddock areas and structures with large glass surfaces.
The protocol also covers situations both in outdoor areas and inside vehicles. The guidance is to seek the nearest building, or if that is not possible, to stay crouched and protect the head. After an incident, everyone should remain in place for at least ten minutes or until a message is issued permitting movement.
The instructions also specify that debris should not be touched or photographed, and that any material found should be reported to local emergency services. Team members should also inform their respective groups so that everyone can be located.
Marc Márquez, the championship leader, was again questioned about the situation on Thursday in Qatar. The Ducati rider had previously avoided publicly voicing his opinion, but admitted that he would prefer to be somewhere else.
“I mean, I would like to be somewhere else. For that reason, I arrived on the latest possible flight and I will depart on the earliest possible one. But we are here, ready to race and totally focused,” Márquez said.
