MotoGP - Grand Prix of Qatar -- Motorsport Events -- Red Bull

MotoGP - Grand Prix of Qatar

Location: Doha, Qatar (Map this address )
Start: 8/04/2012 at 6:00 PM
End: 8/04/2012 at 11:30 PM
About: Just outside the Qatari capital Doha, is the fabulous Losail International Circuit. While it took 14 months to complete Sepang in Malaysia, Losail was finished in just over a year thanks to the efforts of almost 1,000 builders working around the clock. $58 million later, the track was ready to hold its first event – the 2004 MotoGP of Qatar.

In 2007, Losail added permanent outdoor lighting to stage the first night race from the top table of motor sports – the 2008 MotoGP of Qatar, won by Casey Stoner. With four victories on the Persian Gulf to his name, the Australian has the best record of any rider around Qatar, eclipsing Valentino Rossi with three.

The track is a flowing 5.4km, featuring a long straight of just over 1km and surrounded by artificial grass designed to keep the desert sand from blowing onto the circuit.

Apart from sand, and sometimes even rain, one of the biggest challenges posed by Losail is the heat where riders have to race a hot bike in full leathers and helmets at temperatures rising to 41 degrees Celsius and above.