Valentino Rossi had no complaints about the Qatar lighting system during his first night laps on a
MotoGP bike - although he finished the day just ninth fastest and 'must do better' during the second and final night of 2008 pre-season testing.
Rossi's only previous taste of Qatar night riding was back in 2006 - with a road bike and using only a partially floodlit track - but the Fiat Yamaha rider was unfazed by 'full' night riding conditions and it was soon business as usual for the Italian.
"There was a lot of curiosity about this night test and I have to say that I am quite satisfied. I think they have made a great job with the lights and you can ride quite normally, as if it's day. The visibility is quite good so there is no danger for us; it's really no more difficult than riding in the day," he declared.
One of Rossi's main aims for the first night's testing was to work with new tyre-supplier
Bridgestone to find the best tyres to suit the conditions, which are much cooler than during the daytime tests and races of the past four years.
"Maybe it would be better to move this night race to a period when the temperature is a little bit higher however, because at the moment it's very cold here!" said the #46.
The seven times world champion also worked on general set-up, during what is the final pre-season test of 2008. Rossi completed 82 laps overall, with a best time of 1min 56.749secs - a worrying 1.419secs slower than world champion
Casey Stoner
"Today we have worked a lot on the bike set-up, but we were not so fast and we are still missing some grip in acceleration," he revealed. "We tested several different tyres and settings, but I am still sliding a bit when I open the throttle and the front is going a bit wide.
"We know that this track doesn't have the best grip, but other riders are going faster, so we must do better. We have a couple of ideas for tomorrow and I am sure we will be able to improve," he added.
