MotoGP's floodlit oasis at Lusail sits barely 300 miles from the Strait of Hormuz, the flashpoint of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.

Currently the Qatar MotoGP event is scheduled to take place on November 6-8.

Qatar joined the MotoGP calendar in 2004 and has raced under Lusail's floodlights since 2008; at one time the Qatar round was the crown jewel of the championship, at least to Dorna. For most of the past two decades, MotoGP began its season beneath the floodlights in the Qatari desert. From 2007 through 2022, Lusail was the traditional season opener.

The war itself has already been close enough to hear: Iranian missiles have targeted Qatar, their interceptions producing explosions and shockwaves over Doha. Lusail International Circuit sits only about 27 miles from Al Udeid Air Base, a major U.S. military installation in Qatar.

Every time an Iranian missile hits Qatar the chances of the desert MotoGP round happening this year decrease. Cue another round in Spain?

Maybe not. The current rumor du jour is that Dorna will not replace the Qatar round.

This could have very serious championship implications. Ducati has won the last four Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix, 2022–2025—Marc Marquez won both the Sprint and the MotoGP race there last season.