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The MotoGP and Formula 1 paddocks have both been offered COVID-19 vaccines by the governments of the countries where they’re starting their seasons.
And while F1 advised its personnel against accepting the vaccine in Bahrain, the 2021 MotoGP grid has been almost universal in its take-up of the offer from the Qatari government.
MotoGP’s taken the stance that the best thing it can do is get its personnel protected for both their benefit and the benefit of the countries it’s travelling through.
Speaking in a statement released by series promoter Dorna, MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta was quick to thank the Qatari government for extending the offer to the paddock, as well as explaining MotoGP’s reasoning for accepting a vaccine offer when F1 had not.
“The government of Qatar, where the vaccination programme is going so well, offered us the opportunity to vaccinate the paddock and that’s something amazing for us,” Ezpeleta said.
“The whole MotoGP family appreciates it so much. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you very much to the government of Qatar.
“During 2020 we have been following very important protocols to maintain a bubble between people in the MotoGP paddock, who are reduced in number in comparison to 2019. But it permitted us to have a safe season last year.
“Now the government of Qatar is offering us the opportunity to be vaccinated, but every individual decides whether or not to accept.
“The vast majority of people have accepted and are so happy to do it, some people for different reasons can’t.
“But we’re extremely happy because these vaccinations permit us to increase safety and decrease contamination.
“It’s very important for safety, of course in Qatar and especially the other grands prix. The MotoGP family, the vast majority, will be vaccinated.”
“If I have it, it is an act of responsibility. We travel a lot, for our jobs not because we are on holiday, and we could infect a lot of people” :: Joan Mir
Of the 22 riders on the grid, at least 16 have confirmed that they are taking up the offer, with reigning champion Joan Mir explaining that he believed that it was the sensible thing to do to keep both his family and the people he encounters while travelling safe.
“I cannot say ‘no, give it to other people,’ because it’s an opportunity that I have,” the Suzuki rider said.
“We travel all around the world, and if I have it, it is an act of responsibility, not the other way around.
“We travel a lot, for our jobs not because we are on holiday, and we could infect a lot of people.
“It’s true that a lot of people need it, but we have to say thank you to MotoGP and to Qatar for making the possibility for us to have it.
“I talked with my doctors about it, because I don’t have any information, and my personal team asked if there would be any problems, and I will get it.”
“Still I’m not 100%, I can’t trust it” :: Takaaki Nakagami
Ducati rider Jack Miller backed up Mir’s thoughts, confirming that he had received his first shot with no side effects and was delighted to have been given the opportunity.
“I had no doubts,” confirmed the Australian. “I think we’re very fortunate to have the opportunity to get the vaccine so early.
“I know that Australia is trying to roll it out, but getting enough for everyone isn’t easy.
“So for us to get this, working in a high risk environment with travelling and everything, I think we’re so fortunate that MotoGP and Qatar have come together.
“I have no doubts about it, because vaccines are there for the common good of the people.
“I’m no doctor, but I’m sure there’s worse things in the world for me than the tiny little insertion of a vaccine.
“We’ll get the second vaccine before we leave Qatar, and I know it won’t make me completely immune or anything but it’s one more step more in this coronavirus fight.”
The rush in the paddock to ensure everyone is vaccinated is such that Honda rider Marc Marquez has already travelled to Qatar to receive his dose despite missing the test and still being in doubt for the races.
As his recovery from last year’s injury continues, Marquez made a one-off trip from Spain to Doha to ensure he could receive the vaccination.
Of the 17 riders The Race was able to ask for a comment on the vaccine programme, only one confirmed that they had elected not to receive it.
LCR Honda’s Taka Nakagami admitted that he doesn’t fully trust it despite the enormity of scientific evidence.
“Last night I got the information from the team about the vaccine,” the Japanese rider explained, “and actually I didn’t choose it this time. I said no.
“Still I’m not 100%, I can’t trust it. Some of my staff said no and some said yes, but of course most of the people got the vaccine.
“I need more information about the vaccine. I only got the information last night, and if I had said yes then the next morning I had to take a bus and get it, and I wanted to think about it.
“It’s not an easy decision for me, so this time I said no.”
The kingdom of Bahrain offered vaccines to all F1 personnel who would be present for testing and the race, staying out in between.
F1 was appreciative of the offer but as organisation felt compelled to decline, fearing the consequences of being seen to ‘queue jump’ as a UK organisation.
Privately, F1 is believed to have urged its teams to do the same. However, it was ultimately left up to them – and most teams in turn wanted to give their staff free choice.
The vaccine offer was therefore taken up on a varied basis. Some drivers revealed they’d said yes, including Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Ferrari and AlphaTauri accepted the offer for their entire teams – with Ferrari checking with the Italian health authority that it was OK beforehand.
