From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

A NEW TRACK

GP OF QATAR – PREVIEW

The first ever Middle Eastern Motorcycle Race will be held on the Losail International of Qatar on October 2nd .

Built in record time, the circuit was inaugurated on July 9th of this year. During the twelve months necessary for the realization of the structure, between 800 to 1000 people where busy making this project happen. The cost of the facilities was about 52 million dollars. The structure is in fact of a first class making as are the security measures. Both on the inside and outside of the track there are three meters of artificial grass, both for the visual impact as much as for helping keep the track clean from the dust.

The track is 5400 meters long and 14 meters wide. The straightaway is 1060 meters, 20 meters longer than the Catalonian track, and it is to date the second longest straight in the GP Championship.

The track is very particular: it is a mixed circuit with semi quick corners, nice braking points and different areas where overtaking is possible. There are a total of 16 corners, the last of which is surely the most interesting; this is the typical track where the race can be decided at the last corner.

The tarmac used for the paving of the track has been especially studied to resist very high temperatures.

Situated 10 km from the capital, Doha, the track is found in a desert region. The sand that surrounds the track, according to the organizers, should not disturb the riders as they say there should not be wind able to carry it onto the track.

The main incognitos are how much grip will be available as it is a new track, the high temperatures (even if it is a dry type of heat) and the wind which might deposit sand onto the track.

THE COMMENT OF THE RIDERS

SETE GIBERNAU: “It is a track that we all know only by design. It is in fact new and none of us, except Randy Mamola, has ridden on it. There are many corners similar to those on some of the European tracks but it still remains a mystery until we will be able to ride during the first free session and understand the real situation. The high temperatures will definitely be a problem for the tyres and the engine but our biggest worry is the sand being brought onto the track.

“Concerning the Championship, after the Japanese GP the gap with Valentino is increased but I don’t give up, I will continue fighting. We are going through a difficult moment, maybe the most difficult of the season but we are not lost, we know the cause of the problems we had in the past two races and we will work to return competitive”.

COLIN EDWARDS: “Despite the unlucky race at Motegi I arrive confident in Qatar because at Motegi I found a very good setting and thanks to the new chassis I have a very good feeling with the bike. Qatar is a completely new track, no one has data so we are arrive all fresh, we all start from zero, it’s a good occasion that we can use positively”.


More, from a reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

You might want to give folks the link to the Qatar GP website, they did a good job on it, that’s for sure.

http://www.qatargp.net/

Mike Hughes
Rockford, Illinois