Qatar MotoGP race to be held at night next year

Next year's Qatar Grand Prix will be the first MotoGP race to be held at night. Organisers believe the season opening race on March 9 will be the biggest lighting project for any sporting event.

"This is obviously a major project for Qatar and we are proud to be able to say we will hold the first Grand Prix event under lights," Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah from the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation told a news conference in Misano.

MotoGP safety commission members Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and Kenny Roberts tested the Losail International Circuit at night during last year's Grand Prix meeting using street bikes.

In June, F1 carried out its first experiment into the feasibility of night races by running test cars under lights at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Singaporean property billionaire Ong Beng Seng have discussed the possibility of holding a race under floodlights in the south east Asian city state.

While Fernando Alonso has questioned the safety of F1 races on street circuits under artificial light, other series have held night races on ovals in the US.

The Le Mans 24-hour endurance classic also takes place at night, but sportscars have headlights whereas Formula One racers do not.