MOTOGP » Qatar passes 'night vision' test.

I suppose there are some advantages - running at night be be cooler, less windy, and timing will be closer to the European TV schedules.
I wouldn't worry about the spectators - there arn't too many of them anyway - just a few ex-pat oil men who turn up.

I was there 2 days before the test and contested the final round of the World Endurance Championships that was run over 8 hours and 5 of it was at night. They didnt have the big lights on just the normal floodlights and majority of riders set there fastest laps of the race in the dark conditions. The grip level was much better because of the cooler track temp.
I see this as being a fantastic idea for Moto gp.

Also to the punter that said the circuit isnt good. Maybe you should ride it. I have raced in Wec for 2 years now and apart from Suzuka 8 hour this is my second favourate track.

Good luck to the moto gp guys.

Hi Alex Cudlin, fair enough regarding the track. I haven't ridden it, I was mearly speaking from a spectator point of view. What with it only having 1 grandstand,etc and it being flatter than a witches tit.

I remember Steve Hislop setting his fastest and the race record at Le Mans around 2am so night riding is obviously not a problem for some!!! (Not me, I'd carp meself!)

Hi Buelliful

I agree with you about spectator vantage points. Whilst I was at the circuit I took the time to have a look at all this and I agree. I noticed they had a massive grand stand but no food or drinks for the spectators to buy. I think there needs be an improvment on that department but for Pit lay out and thing like this it was first class.
I was speaking to Steve(plater) after his crash and he said that the medical center is the most professional he has ever seen or been in and felt very happy with the service he got.

I think that the night race will be a great spectical but I totally agree with you when you talk about spectators and elavation of the circuit.

Alex

Hey Alex, Love your work keep it up. You missed out on a hummer of a last race at EC this year, some great paddle work by some of the privateers.
On the Food front I suspect the culture is a little different over their, If it was a full hous they would definatly have a contracted food vender.....supplying fallafles and kabbabs

Word has it they will organise an underwater grandprix in 2010, Ezpeleta is working on it now.
The track of choice will be flooded with 20 inches of water and the riders will flash a wetsuit, flippers and scubagear.

This will open the door to the first air grandprix in 2011 (who said the sky is the limit?) where riders will sport a bag of helium
on their back, young Randy Krummenacher already tested this equipment at Valencia.
Good thing about this scheme is that there will be no more tyre disputes as the bikes will have no contact with the tarmac

OMG, Morgue, that was funny! thanks for the laugh

Great! The games console companies have got their way. Now a "fantasy" night race is justified at last! Lol

Can we have a 'WipeOut' track too, with smart rockets and E.M.P. disruptor add ons?

Thanks, you can have and be anything you want, eat your heart out! (don't take that too literally)
But seriously, the only bit I liked about the nightracing is the fact that you see them testing the track on roadbikes,
last year Rossi, Roberts Jr. and Capirossi on an R1, Fireblade and Duc (with headlights on),
this time Melandri on a Duc, Capirossi on a GSXR, Toseland on the R1 and West on a ZZXXRRR Ninja thing.

QUESTION for riders that have raced under good or bad lights. Do/did it seem that you were going much quicker under lights than day time even though your night and/or day laps times were pretty close,, did it seem that you have arrived much quicker at your braking point at night, did it feel that you are going quicker around a longer at night, did it feel that you arrived on a rider that you were about to overtake much quicker and less room at night, did you feel that you had to concentrate more at night even under brilliant lights, did the length of time on the straight seem shorter or the distance less at night.I am talking about night racing without any head lights just track lighting??