A CATHEDRAL IN THE DESERT The MotoGP Championship returns to Qatar where last year the Team Movistar Honda MotoGP riders conquered the first and second steps of the podium. A double success which together with the other twelve obtained in 2004 (four victories and eight podiums) reconfirmed that the team lead by Fausto Gresini deserved to be one of the top runners of the MotoGP Championship. Born in record time, the Losail International was inaugurated last year. The track is 5400 meters long and 14 meters wide. The straight measures 1060 meters: with 20 meters more than Barcelona, it is the second longest straight of the Championship. The track is very peculiar: it is a mixture of medium-quick corners, great braking and various points in which overtaking is possible. There are a total of 16 corners, the last of which is definitely the most interesting as this is the typical track where everything can be decided at the last corner. At 10 km from the capital, Doha, this track is situated in a desert region. The circuit surface was specially studied to resist the very high temperatures, but the main unknown remains the grip as it is often compromised by the high temperature and sand which can easily be blown onto the track form the wind. “It is a very safe track which just happens to be in the middle of the desert.” comments SETE GIBERNAU, winner of the 2004 Qatar GP, first race disputed on this track. “I like the design of this track which offers a bit of everything and is quite fun to ride. A distinctive aspect of this track is the sequence of three right corners. Generally it is difficult to overtake here as, given the track conditions, you cannot go out of your line. The two best place to overtake are the first and last corner. My best memory of this track? My victory in 2004. I look forward to the GP of Qatar. Last year we won and this year we tested in winter. I hope that the data gathered in March in occasion of the pre-season test will be useful for the set up of the bike. I hope that next race will represent a turning pint of such a difficult season. It seems that when things go bad, they go really bad. But mentally I believe in myself more than ever, we just need a change of luck so I’m hoping for a win this weekend.” MARCO MELANDRI returns to Qatar to a track where he already has quite a few miles under his belt with the RC211V during pre season testing. “I did a lot of laps on this track last winter. I am sure that the data we accumulated will be helpful to find a good bike setup. In 2004 Qatar was new for all of us, now we all have had the experience of a race and winter testing, this track will be more familiar for all of us. Now the main unknown remains the wound at the right foot. The wound is healing correctly and I hope to I hope to arrive in Qatar in better shape. In Malaysia I was happy that I could race despite the pain at the foot. For the GP of Qatar I have four additional days to recover”. MARCO COMMENTS THE TRACK “The design of the track is nice, but the conditions are often compromised by the sand which gets deposited onto the track surface. The section I prefer is the one between corners 12 and 16, really nice but above all really quick. In general it is quite difficult to overtake as you cannot lose your line, but one of the best place to try to overtake is during the braking at the end of the straight. The slowest part of the track is between corners 6 and 9, in particular corners 6 and 7. The secret to a good lap? To stay on a clean line! My favourite memory of this track? Last year Losail represented a new experience. I had a good first half of the race until my engine broke and forced me to retire”. THE TRACK – TECHINCAL DATA Name of the circuit: Losail International Opened: 2004 Last modified 2004 Lenght: 5.400 m Width: 12 m Pole position: left Right corners: 10 Left corners: 6 Longest straight: 1068 m RECORD: track record: Edwards (Honda) 1’59″293 pole position: Checa (Yamaha) 1’58″988 2004 race : 1st Gibernau (Honda) 2nd Edwards (Honda) 3rd Xaus (Ducati)