As reported by The Race earlier today, MotoGP has taken up Qatar’s offer to provide COVID-19 vaccines to members of its paddock in attendance at the Losail International Circuit.
Qatar was one of the first countries to start a mass vaccination program using both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and quickly moved to distribute them. As of three days ago it had so far administered 327,582 doses, according to the Ministry of Health, with at least 10% of the adult population already receiving one dose.
“To ensure the health and safety of the entire tour while they are in Qatar and on their continued travels around the world this season, the Government of the State of Qatar has offered MotoGP access to COVID-19 vaccines,” the series said in a statement
“All members of the Championship, including those working and travelling within the MotoGP paddock, will have the chance to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The vaccination program is aimed at increasing the personal safety of all those on-site. It will offer increased protection for those in the MotoGP paddock and all those that come into contact with it as the sport travels the world this season.”
It’s believed that the plan for the MotoGP paddock could spring into life as soon as tomorrow, the final day of pre-season testing, as many of the personnel on-site are expected to return home to Europe the following day.
It will then be continued to be rolled out in the coming days to the Moto2 and Moto3 paddock as they arrive for their own tests, before everyone receives a second dose when they return for the opening two races of the year later this month.
The opening round of the series has been set to under extremely strict conditions, thanks in part to series organisers Dorna agreeing a deal with local authorities that allows teams to quarantine not just within their hotels but within the paddock bubble.
Paddock staff are nonetheless still confined to a small list of pre-approved hotels and to the Losail paddock, with no hire cars permitted and everyone instead travelling as a group via bus.
They are also subjected to frequent tests, with one before departure from their home countries, one upon arrival (followed by complete isolation until it is confirmed as negative) then follow-up tests every six days.
A similar vaccination offer was made to the F1 paddock by the government of Bahrain, which will host F1’s season opener on March 18, the same day as the MotoGP season kicks off only 100 miles away in Qatar.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali insisted the championship would not wish to ‘jump the queue’, with various countries at different stages in vaccinating their populations and many still doing so in certain phases.
