Qatar to herald new era in MotoGP - racing under lights

Qatar's dream of being the first nation to hold the motorcycle Grand Prix race at night is set to come true.

The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation declared that it would host the historic race next year at the Losail International Circuit (LIC) during the evening.

According to reports reaching here from the Misano circuit, Italy, QMMF President Nasser bin Khalifa al Attiyah announced in a press conference that the forthcoming 2008 Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar on March 9, the season opening race, would be held at night.

The project to light the entire circuit is likely to be the biggest one, even undertaken in the world for any sporting event. Musco Lighting, who will commission the floodlighting, has assured a total visibility for the race which will move to a Sunday evening slot.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Musco Lighting's President Joe Crookham and Vice-President Jeff Rogers, QMMF President al Attiyah and FIM President Vito Ippolito were all present at the press conference.

Making the announcement, Mr. Ezpeleta explained why Dorna is interested in the night race. He remarked: "Changing the Qatar race to a night time schedule allows for a better synchronization with European television schedules, where the race can be made available in the primetime Sunday slot. This is obviously a big boost for the broadcasters, and a landmark moment for MotoGP."

Al Attiyah commented from Misano in telephonic talk: "This is obviously a very prestigious project for Qatar and we are proud to say that we will hold the first Grand Prix event under lights.

The base work has already started at the LIC. Soon the strategic layout will be finalized for the lighting.

"Our focus is zeroed in on the commissioning of the project. We're are extremely hopeful the track will be ready for the landmark race," added al Attiyah.

"We're hopeful that we'll be able to finish the lighting at least one or one and a half months before the start of the race on March 9.

"Whilst this is great for the country's image as a whole, it also means our track can be used in the hot summer months and we hope this will open up more opportunities for other motor sports events in the future," said the QMMF President.

Experts in providing lighting services for racetracks and all kinds of sporting venues, Musco President Crookham described the complex system as "the biggest lighting project in the world for any sporting event."

He added: "The system will incorporate over 3700 separate light sources across every section of the circuit, which will eliminate shadowing on the track and in the run-off areas. The quality of the light is the same as any premium lighting system at any other major sporting venue. Based on our experience in other motor sports events, the riders will be able to see as well as during daytime and may even come to prefer it."

FIM President Ippolito hailed the announcement of the first night Grand Prix.

"I would like to express my thanks to the QMMF and Dorna for the hard work which has seen this project move forward. Before it was just something to talk about, but now it is very real and it is great to see MotoGP changing for the better. It is positive news for motorcycling as a whole."

The possibility of a night race at the Losail International Circuit was examined at the last year's Grand Prix when MotoGP Safety Commission members Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and Kenny Roberts Jr. rode the track. But they had used only street bikes.

(Source: AIPS)