08 MotoGP opener to be held at night!

[Matt Bleck]

It's offical, Round 1 of next years GP will be raced under lights!

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=21556

[riffer]

Excellent news. Apart from the added excitement of the change of style and seeing the riders overcome the issues of different lighting, it will quite possibly be on at a more friendly time for those of us who live in the arse end of the world.

[cowpoos]

Excellent news. Apart from the added excitement of the change of style and seeing the riders overcome the issues of different lighting, it will quite possibly be on at a more friendly time for those of us who live in the arse end of the world.
nah...they will just delay it a day and play it in the middle of the night!

[k14]

Excellent news. Apart from the added excitement of the change of style and seeing the riders overcome the issues of different lighting, it will quite possibly be on at a more friendly time for those of us who live in the arse end of the world.
Nope, the reason its under lights is so that the european audience can watch it in the afternoon. If it was during the day it would have been at a good time for us, but sadly it will be at 10pm or midnight just like the other european rounds.

[paturoa]

That is just stupid.

There are so many things wrong with asking racers at the highest level to ride at night.

[Nicksta]

well, i'm looking forward to seeing it.. i assume it will be all flood lit so not really "night" racing... i'd love to give it a go.. i ride faster at night ;)

man, its only just finished and i cant wait for anther round of MotoGP :)

[rsnut]

Great to see Ducati is already testing for this night racing with the Desmosedici RR - as they say a MotoGP bike with lights.:first:
Another season on top coming up !

[xwhatsit]

They talked about doing this with F1 -- Bernie wanted it bad, but the drivers weren't too keen amongst others. Great for TV ratings. This will be the reason for doing it; any added excitement for sport's sake will be purely a side effect.

I wouldn't've thought the bikes would need lights, would they? At least they weren't going to do that with F1, just really good track lighting.

[k14]

They talked about doing this with F1 -- Bernie wanted it bad, but the drivers weren't too keen amongst others. Great for TV ratings. This will be the reason for doing it; any added excitement for sport's sake will be purely a side effect.

I wouldn't've thought the bikes would need lights, would they? At least they weren't going to do that with F1, just really good track lighting.
They are doing it for F1 next year in singapore.

[White trash]

That is just stupid.

There are so many things wrong with asking racers at the highest level to ride at night.
Know all the details do ya?

From what I've read, they will have at least the same lighting levels as a day race. Then take into account the cooler track temp, cooler air and you should have some spectacular lap times. Bring it on I reckon.

[BarryG]

I think a factor, apart from the TV aspect, is that it'll be a bit cooler at night. In fact, it could get bloody cold in the desert at night, I think. I wonder if practice and qualifying is at night too? If not, that'll play havoc with tyre selection, surely?
I think the whole idea's pretty wank. Uninteresting antiseptic track, nobody there to watch - what's the point?!
Cheers
Barry

[White trash]

Uninteresting antiseptic track, nobody there to watch - what's the point?!



Bit like racing at Taupo really.

[cowpoos]

why are so people negitive about it!! its a fantasic idea...and the racers that tested the under lights trial loved it...they had a wet simulation,power cut simulation and normal simulation...and don't for get it won't be just any light shining down on the track!!

[Tim 39]

Sounds like it should be interesting. will interesting to see if the lap times are better or worse

[imdying]

That is just stupid.

There are so many things wrong with asking racers at the highest level to ride at night.Suzuka 8 hour is one of the biggest races of all time.

[marioc]

Should make for some spectactular viewing imo

[onearmedbandit]

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=21559


Seems the riders in attendance where alright with the concept.

[Sully60]

I remember seeing the test they did back before the start of the season and from what I saw the light levels wouldn't be an issue.
Yeah will be interesting racing at night though as has been posted before there's a whole lot of issues that means this year data ain't going to help with squat!
I wonder if the teams will set up the fuelling so big flames come out the exhaust on the overrun!
(fuck, you can take the boy out of the Hutt.....)

[pritch]

This idea was trialled last year. The main reason offered was that it would be cooler at night. The Brit bike mags thought it might be to hide the fact the stands were empty...

For the original trial only a portion of the track was under lights, but presumably it must have tested OK...

Interesting if nothing else.

[skidMark]

fook that for a laugh...i spose itll be well lit...but still seems silly.:stupid:

[denill]

From - www.mcnews.com.au/

Barely two months after the announcement that next season's MotoGP curtain raiser in Qatar would be run under floodlights subject to approval from the Riders' Safety Commission, a successful test at the Losail International Circuit this evening gave the project its final go-ahead. As such the 2008 Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar will become the first motorsports World Championship Grand Prix to take place at night, an historic moment for MotoGP and Qatar.

Five MotoGP riders were present at the night test, which took place at 7:30pm at the circuit on the outskirts of Qatar's capital city Doha. Loris Capirossi (Suzuki), Marco Melandri (Ducati), James Toseland (Yamaha), Anthony West (Kawasaki) and Alex de Angelis (Honda) all did several laps of the circuit and were unanimously in favour of next season's race taking place in the dark.

"It's going to be so exciting to race under floodlights," said MotoGP veteran Loris Capirossi. "The difference from when we first tested here at night is amazing. Back then I wasn't too sure what was possible, but the lighting is perfect out there! There's hardly any difference between day and night riding in these conditions, and of course it's going to be more exciting to race at night. There's no problems with shadows or reflections, I'm very happy with this."

The riders used road versions of their MotoGP prototypes, which are currently travelling to Malaysia for a pre-season test session later this week, and Capirossi added that this wasn't a problem, "We reached nearly 300km/h here on these bikes, so I don't think there will be too much difference to come here on a MotoGP machine. We could see the warning flags and braking markers and even when they tested the rare possibility of a power cut, there was no problem because of the back-up systems. I can't wait for the whole circuit to be illuminated."

Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah added, "When we first built the circuit we had the idea of running a night race along with His Highness the Prime Minister, and finally it is great to see this project is going to go ahead. I'd like to thank the riders for making this effort, MotoGP is our number one priority and we are excited about next year's race."

The lighting at the circuit is being provided by US based Musco Lighting, and their President Joe Crookham remarked, "Our team have worked very hard to get this test going in just 65 days. Tonight we had the first part of the circuit fully lit, and we aim to complete the rest of the project by early February. It is the biggest project we have ever undertaken, but we are confident that everything will be as successful as this first test."

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, MotoGP's commercial rights holder, said, "This is a landmark moment for our sport, and we would like to thank the efforts of the QMMF and Musco for bringing this project to this stage. We can now confirm that next year's race will take place under floodlights, and we hope it will be successful event."

The Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar will take place on March 9th, 2008.

[Pancakes]

Should be faster, these guys are freaky computers with legs! The light being constant all race will mean they can rely on what they have learned about the track conditions each lap. Less gusty winds (from heat) at night too. Lower temps in the desert aill be safer for the riders I'm sure, what are they getting up to in their leathers with 35 degrees on the track? Must be coming up 50 in ya suit, that dangerous. So long as they do the lights right (and by the sounds of the test they have) it should be sweet!

[skidMark]

haaaang on....CLICK....night = colder air colder air = bikey go like fooker.....

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm where do i sign on lol

i want to be in moto gp...but i'm too shit a rider...and too old now.

[Cleve]

Should be very interesting and good on them for trying something different. (or even if it is for hiding the fact the stands were empty - I went to Qatar GP last year and couldn't believe just one small stand along main straight - I mean more people were at Manfeild nationals this year!!)

[Maido]

hopefully they get a common ecu at some stage with no traction aids, now that would be interesting.
we all saw on youtube how pedrosa went without switching on the launch control!

[Highlander]

If they can race at night, maybe it is ok for US to ride at night.

What next, riding in the rain perhaps?

Where will it end?