MotoGP: More checks needed for wet Qatar night race
Further checks will be needed before a final decision is made on whether M🌜otoGP can race under the floodlights in the rain.
Qat🌜ar hosts MotoGP's only night race and the final hour of the March pre-season test saw the circuit artificial𝓰ly soaked by tankers to study the feasibility of racing in such conditions, after previous rain delays during the grand prix.
While the riders felt the conditions as tested were accept𒊎able for racing, concerns remain about the visibility in real rain.
Furt✤her checks will be 💛needed before a final decision is made on whether MotoGP can race under the floodlights in the rain.
Qatar hosts MotoGP's only night race and the final hour of the March pre-season test saw the circuit artificially soaked by tankers to study𝄹 the feasibility of racing in such conditions, after previous rain delays during the grand prix.
While the riders felt the conditions as tested were acceꦓptable for racing, concerns remain about the visibility in real rain.
Dorna's Sporting Ma🐈nager Carlos Ezpeleta said: "There were mixed votes in the Safety Commission. So 🅰[the final decision] is postponed.
"Basically, under the conditions of the test, which was💞 artif🍰icially wet, the riders said it was okay.
"But they still had doubts about a downpour of real rain. So that would have to be checked and obviously we🍷 can't simulate that artificially."
The 2009 Qatar race was postponed until the following night 🌊due to a rainstorm, while rain and associated drainage problems at the 2017 event caused qualifying to be cancelled and a 45-minute delay to the race start.
The MotoGP start time was moved from 9pm to 7pm for this year's season-opening grand prix, giving organisers more flexibility in terms of any weather changes.
Peter has been in the ༒paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc ꦦMarquez’s injury issues.
