The 2008 MotoGP riders and team managers attended a spectacular inauguration ceremony last night as the Losail circuit, venue for Qatar Grand Prix, became the first fully floodlit MotoGP circuit when the race organisation switched on the awe inspiring lighting system. The 5.380 km circuit now boasts 1,000 poles ranging between three and nine metres tall the height of the poles determined by the distance from the track strategically placed to reduce the shadow effect. Forty-four 13 megawatt generators, installed in batches of three, pump out enough power to illuminate 70 football pitches!
Riding 320 km plus 800cc grand prix machines in normal conditions is the biggest challenge in two-wheel motorsport riding them under floodlights brings a whole new dimension into play and the riders entered the fray in cautious frame of mind. Some riders found it relatively easy to get up to speed for others the artificial light gave them problems identifying points of reference.
Frenchman Randy De Puniet found the conditions ‘Strange’ but experienced no problems with shadows while riding his LCR RC212V. He used the base set up he and his team technicians have developed during winter testing making only minor adjustments before working with Michelin on tyre testing.
Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda: 1m 56.062s“It was strange , especially at the beginning. In fact outside the track everything is dark, but I had no special problem on track with the shadows. The conditions are cool at night and I’m satisfied. The feeling with the bike and the tyres is good. We have a good base set up so I didn’t change too much. I tested some tyres for Michelin tonight.”
Overall lap times on day one at Losail:
1. Casey STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) 1:55.330
2. Jorge LORENZO (Fiat Yamaha) 1:56.019
3. Randy DE PUNIET (Honda LCR) 1:56.062
4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (JiR Honda Scot ) 1:56.121
5. James TOSELAND (Yamaha Tech3) 1:56.251
6. Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda San Carlo) 1:56.571
7. John HOPKINS (Kawasaki) 1:56.614
8. Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda) 1:56.621
9. Valentino ROSSI (Fiat Yamaha) 1:56.749
10. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha Tech3) 1:56.762
11. Toni ELIAS (Alice Ducati) 1:57.007
12. Nicky HAYDEN (Repsol Honda) 1:57.010
13. Shinya NAKANO (Honda San Carlo) 1:57.223
14. Chris VERMEULEN (Rizla Suzuki) 1:57.522
15. Loris CAPIROSSI (Rizla Suzuki) 1:57.551
16. Marco MELANDRI (Ducati Marlboro Team) 1:57.593
17. Sylvain GUINTOLI (Alice Ducati) 1:57.644
18. Anthony WEST (Kawasaki) 1:57.787
