MotoGP News - Qatar In The Dark For 200814/12/2007

The first ever motorcycle grand prix race under floodlights will start at 11pm local time, according to the latest time schedule announced for the Qatar GP, opening round of the 2008 MotoGP season.

A group of riders tested under lights in September, with part of the Losail desert circuit outside the capital Doha already fully equipped. The MotoGP party gave the thumbs up, while work proceeded to complete the massive project.

New World Champion, Bridgestone-shod Casey Stoner was not at the tests, but was in favour of floodlit racing. “I used to race dirt-track under floodlights. It was good fun,” he said.

Night racing confers a double advantage at the desert venue: temperatures are cooler than during the height of the day, while the race timings also fit better with European TV scheduling.

The first serious night-time tests of the full circuit are scheduled to take place at official pre-season IRTA tests, with the race itself on March 10. With the 125cc and 250cc races earlier in the evening, the MotoGP race is scheduled to start at 11 pm local time.

US-based firm Musco Lighting, with extensive experience in floodlit sporting applications, undertook the work. The main lighting comes from 3,200 overhead units, with 500 low-level beams cross-lighting the track surface.