This incredible facility was opened last year and staged the very first Qatar Grand Prix. Around $58 million was spent building the state of the art 5.300km circuit in the desert. The facilities were superb while the long circuit provided a variety of bends and a start and finish straight over 1000 meters long. The heat was intense throughout the race weekend but fears that sand would blow onto the surface were largely unfounded. Sete Gibernau won a controversial opening race after Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi had to start from the back of the grid. Rossi crashed in the race but Biaggi was a brave sixth on the Camel Honda, with his team-mate Makoto Tamada tenth. One thing for certain it will be hot and dry over the race weekend. Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world thanks to natural gas and oil and is keen to establish itself as an international sporting venue. The race on Saturday will be only the second MotoGP race to be staged in the Middle East. FROM THE SADDLE Alex Barros #4: “I think that in Qatar we will find a similar situation and so it’s possible that we will find the same problems we had in Malaysia. The track will be dirty and slippery on day one. I remember in last year’s first practice I hardly managed to get my knee down. So we hope that this year it will be a bit better because the track is in fact nice and technical, I really like it. We also hope that Michelin can bring something new, even though we will obviously be trying to do everything possible to get a better set-up for the bike.” Shane Byrne #67: “When I found out I would get this chance to ride the Honda, I thought to myself, “Fantastic, I can get into the top ten, maybe even the top five!,” but after Sepang, I’ve got a better idea of where we are and also how the bike works over a race and what it gives you. I don’t know the Qatar track but we have a programme for setting the bike up there. So I hope that this weekend will see some more progress for us, I hope to be able to battle in the main group and take a few points with a better result.” CIRCUIT – QATAR GRAND PRIX – 01/10/05 LOSAIL Track data Length: 5.300km Pole position: Left Width: 12m Right corners: Ten Left corners: Six Longest straight: 1.068m Constructed 2004 Record lap: Colin Edwards (Honda) 1m59.293s – 162.773 km/h Record Pole Lap : Carlos Checa (Yamaha) 1m58.988s – 162.773 km/h 2004 Race winner: Sete Gibernau (Honda) 44m01.741s – 161.294 km/h Alex Barros/Troy Bayliss 2004 Barros fourth Bayliss dnf TECHNICAL INSIGHT – QATAR GRAND PRIX – 01/10/05 LOSAIL TECHNICAL INSIGHT The Losail circuit is situated in the desert and this means that the climatic condition is a major issue. Track temperature was more 40 degrees at Sepang and it’ll probably be around the same at Losail, up in the 50s. As in Malaysia the bikes must be specially prepared to increase the refrigeration efficiency of the engine and radiators with larger capacities than normal will be fitted again. The track combines a long start and finish straight of 1.068m. with various type of corners but it is very symmetric and not any of them need a lot of throttle. The base setting of the bike will be similar to that used at Sepang, an adequate compromise between the brakes and suspension settings to be able to give stability under braking and also to maintain grip throughout the other parts of the circuit. Grip at Losail is a topic matter speaking about tyres’ performances. The layout of the track isn’t particular hard on tyres. The major concern is the sand blown onto the surface which dramatically reduces the grip. Unfortunately the track doesn’t get used a great deal and the sand has not many chances to get cleared away. If it is sandy, you do everything you can to find grip, but if you use really soft tyres, the sand wears them out quickly, whereas if you use hard tyres you have no grip, which makes tyre choice a tricky task.