MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez has made clear he is not comfortable about competing at the Qatar Grand Prix, even though he could clinch the world title in Sunday's race.
According to Motorsport.com, the Spaniard spoke openly during Thursday's pre-event press conference about his reluctance to be in Doha, which lies on the edge of a conflict zone. The session drew only a small audience, as very few journalists made the trip to the event.
Asked whether he had concerns about being in Qatar, Marquez replied: "I would like to be in another place." He explained that he had chosen the last available flight to get there and planned to depart on the first one out, while insisting he remained focused and prepared to race.
The report noted that riders now seem to have accepted that the controversial round will go ahead, with some adopting a more upbeat tone on media day. Pedro Acosta and Francesco Bagnaia both indicated that the mood felt normal.
Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez offered a contrasting view, telling Spanish media that he sensed tension around the paddock. The rider from Madrid described it as an unusual weekend and admitted he was not at full fitness.
Fernandez has been cleared to take part but is still nursing a broken index finger. He may need to alter his braking technique and use a different finger, as he did the day after sustaining the injury in Indonesia, where he went on to finish on the podium.
He suggested the uneasy atmosphere stemmed from many people in the paddock sharing Marquez's wish to be somewhere else, and said the situation was far from ideal for those working at the event, particularly given the pressure of a race weekend. Even so, he expected nothing to happen.
Fernandez added that he felt fortunate that the political situation had shifted somewhat, a remark Motorsport.com said was likely a reference to Tuesday's mid-term election in the United States. He concluded that there was little real reason for alarm.