Qatar MotoGP: First race will be true test of lights

MotoGP safety bosses believe they will have to wait until after this weekend’s historic first night race to get an accurate gauge on how successful Qatar’s ground breaking new lighting system is.

While the lights received universal approval at last week’s IRTA test, riders safety representative Franco Uncini said judgement would be reserved until the floodlights had been used in full race conditions this Sunday (March 9).

Uncini and FIM Safety Director Claude Danis spent hours debriefing with riders and team bosses in Qatar to get initial feedback on the new lighting system.

And Uncini said: “The riders were very positive after the talks we had with them.

“Everybody was happy but maybe we have to wait until after the race to make a more informed judgement because now for the most of the time the riders were mainly lapping on their own.

“After the race we will have their real comment and feelings but for the moment they are very happy.”

Claude Uncini said the only alteration riders had requested at the test was for more light at turn seven.

And Uncini said: “Musco can change it with the computer. The riders said there wasn’t enough so they made it stronger and on the second day nobody complained.”