MotoGP organisers Dorna Sports could alter the schedule for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix should poor weather intervene, with an earlier race time and postponement being considered.
Qatar has been hit by heavy rain these past seven days, with much of last weekend’s Moto2 and Moto3 test from the Losail International Circuit called off as a result.
So far, none of the three classes have ever ridden on a wet surface under floodlights, as it has been thought glare would make running in such conditions too dangerous.
However, just a few weeks prior to the Qatar Grand Prix, FIM safety officers Franco Uncini and Loris Capirossi carried out a private test at a wet Losail under floodlights and reported back that racing could be staged.
As a result, wet tyres have been brought to Losail. But the decision to race at night in the wet is still to be ratified by the Safety Commission, and many riders have not been not convinced by Capirossi’s and Uncini’s findings.
Running this weekend is yet to be impacted by rain. On Thursday it was announced that plans for extra sessions have been put in place in order to allow the riders to assess such conditions, with a decision on whether racing can go ahead on Sunday night to be taken immediately afterwards during a Safety Commission meeting.
Should the riders agree that racing simply cannot go ahead at night if it is wet, then Dorna will look at staging the event during the day on Sunday.
If this cannot be done, less desirably, we could see a repeat of the 2009 event, when the race was pushed back to the Monday.
Mercifully, Sunday’s forecast predicts rain to stay away, though today’s running looks set to be heavily affected by wet weather.
Track action resumes at 18:00 (GMT+3), with Moto3 qualifying up first. The first MotoGP qualifying of the season is scheduled to take place from 19:55 (GMT+3).
