Grip issues at Qatar night test

Strong winds and early morning rain have already caused grip issues on the opening night of the MotoGP Qatar test session.

The Losail International Circuit has been buffeted by strong winds in the last couple of days, which have created an issue with dust and sand blown onto the track surface.

Rain that fell this morning at 7am local time has also added to the grip issues.
Tech 3 Yamaha rider James Toseland immediately reported problems with grip on the slippery surface, as he was only able to complete seven laps before yet more rain fell on the desert track.

The sand was causing instant wear on the tyres, with abrasion a major issue as Toseland’s rear Bridgestone tyre was destroyed after seven laps.

The British rider, who had a nightmare start to 2009 when he suffered a massive 125mph high-side in Sepang last month, told MCN: “The track is quite dirty but it is the sand on the track from the wind that is causing a problem for the tyres. The rain doesn’t help either because it is just brings more dirt with it as it falls.”

Tonight’s test, which started at 6pm local time, was less than an hour old when a fresh cloudburst hit the track.
The session was immediately red flagged at 6.50pm.