Alex Marquez moves to end MotoGP Qatar GP speculation: 'The race is confirmed'

Alex Marquez said the Qatar Grand Prix “is confirmed,” moving to cool speculation about whether the race would be held amid rider demands for assurances ahead of travelling to Doha. Speaking on Thursday before the Malaysian GP, the Gresini Ducati rider indicated that little had changed since his last media briefing at Phillip Island, adding that “nobody knows” the situation but that the GP now appears set. Marquez, who joined other riders in declining to detail the negotiations, said he “cannot talk about that story” and bluntly replied that riders currently have “no power.” He said longer-term unity could come through creating a riders’ association.