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This event took place 11/04/2010
See event results from motogp.com
Guest Speaker
Dennis Noyes
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Dennis Noyes is one of the true 'veterans' involved in MotoGP. An American, he has been involved with motorsports since an early age; in America, Spain and around the world. He was 2 times Spanish champion, and since 1975 has been a full time tester and journalist; and covering GP since 1987. His son Kenny has been racing since 1996, and is currently in the new Moto2 class. Denis writes for a variety of publications, notably Motociclismo and TVE in Spain. |
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| Qatar - Fun we had in 2010 |
| Click to enlarge, mouse-over for captions. |
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| We welcome contibutions of photos and will link your galleries if you wish |
| Qatar - Fun we had in 2009 |
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Event report
Grand Prix Of Qatar 2010
Qatar MotoGP 2010 9-11 April
This is perhaps one of the most unique events of the season. Every MotoGP lover should come to Qatar at least once.
The first race of the season means we get to see all the new teams, riders, machinery. This year this experience was enhanced with the first run of the new Moto2 class. The night action is lovely; but the best side-effect of the night race is that you have the days to relax and explore a bit. Really makes it feel like an 'extended weekend'.
We took advantage of this and our group of intrepid desert explorers hit the dunes Friday morning for a day in the sand and sun. Our driver was described as a 'bit nuts'; which is pretty much perfect if you want that extra 'thrilling' experience. The stop at the desert camp with food, drink and cool activities such as sand surfing is always highlighted by individual efforts to reshape the sandscape on personal quad bikes or camels...
Friday night after dinner a small group headed out to the track to get that first experience. Always a 'wow' moment is the first mirage-like view of the track as we approach in the darkness along the Al Khor highway. It looks like a set from Close Encounters with the lights carving a dome-like effect in the desert.
Seeing the bikes out there is also unique. For non-VIP /hospitality customers, the only vantage point is the main grandstand along the start straight, but for this track that isn't so bad. The view of the start grid under the lights is spectacular, and of course if you really want to feel the MotoGP engines in action, just head down to the front row (open seating) and catch them going past on one of the fastest straights in MotoGP. (This is where Casey and Ducati looked like UFOs in the seminal 2007 opening GP)
Saturday during the day we had a pleasant tour of Doha, taking in the old Souk, the camel market, the new Equestrian Centre (where we met many race horses worth more than my house!) and capping it off with an Arabic lunch in the souk. A relaxingway to get slowly geared up for the first night of real action.
This is never a large event - either for us nor the track itself; who can at most take about 5000 visitors on race night. This is one of the great things about the event, especially if you are in the VIP Village which has open paddock access -- it is no trouble to see most of the riders. We had customers photographed with Jorge, Vale, Nicky, Colin, Dovi, and many more...
The qualifying action saw Casey continue his dominance of the weekend, and we were resigned to see him totally annihilate the opposition on this, his favourite circuit. Didn't quite turn out that way!
In the VIP Village Saturday (to which all of our package customers were able to attend I am pleased to report!) we had a special guest Dennis Noyes; one of the real veteran moto journalists, former racer, and contemporary of the likes of King Kenny and that era. He helped us understand some of the details of the circuit, Casey, Honda's poor pre-season, and a range of other topics, including the new Moto2 class in which is son Kenny was debuting with the Banderas team.
During the weekend we also had visits from two 125cc riders we know well - Norwegian Sturla Fagerhaug, recent Rookies Cup runner-up and young Scandanavian hopeful; and our own sponsored Danny Webb. As his first race at Qatar, like many Qatar rookies, Sturla was having visual problems, which is in addition to the usual getting to grips with the track. He finished just out of the points at 18th, but well ahead of most of the other Qatar 'rookies'. Danny was not having a great weekend but got it together at the race, pulling himself up a little from his 13th starting position to 11th.
Sunday during the day is perfect for pool- (or beach-) side relaxation, a chance to hit the souks or the incredible shopping malls. After our day energising we were ready to hit the track again!
The Sunday evening races were all thrilling. The 125cc saw a 5-way duel for the lead through most of the race with Nico Terol finally pulling it away and taking the inaugural 125cc victory. Another favourite of ours, Bradley Smith, had a rocky weekend, and while it looked like he might catch the lead group at one point, had to settle for a not-terrible 8th. He is by no means out of contention!
The Moto2 race was perhaps the most anticipated with no one being sure what might happen. And the unexpected is just what happened! With three of the favourites all skittling out on the first corner (De Angelis, Bradl and Simon); the pole man, and our top personal favourite, Gresini Moto2 rider Tony Elias looked like he would be able to get away from the pack. However this was not to be, as Tomizawa, Debon, and Cluzel all mounted a challenge, ultimately relegating Tony to a 4th (which Gresini were very happy with). A tough call for us -- we have long supported (materially and morally) the Frenchman Jules Cluzel; he took his masterly career first podium here last year. His 3rd was his second ever podium and we were very proud of him (the second time I have stood under his podium and he has not been given a champagne! Tough as you might imagine for a Frenchman! :-)
We have a connection to Debon as well -- Alex rides the FTR Moto2 bike -- the only British Moto2 machinery, and also the bike of one of our other favourite riders Kev Coghlan, 2009 Spanish champion (and wildcarding in Silverstone). At any rate it was Tomizawa's unexpected sensational victory that really drilled home the message for this year's moto2 class: expect anything!
I have been hoping for a Qatar paint-swapping showdown between Rossi and Stoner for the past couple of years. I thought this might be the one, but Casey as usual just got out in the lead and looked untouchable. Or was he?? His crash on lap 6 just seemed totally unforced; a (now) rare error which of course totally altered the race.
If I have to make a negative comment, it is this: when Casey crashed, a cheer went up. In fact Casey only seems to get cheers when he crashes. Yes there are many more Rossi fans than Stoner fans, but we don't cheer when de Puniet or Lorenzo (or anyone else) crashes. This is poor sportsmanship - Casey is a bona fide world champion, and deserves respect; and in any case his crash deprived us of seeing Rossi attempt his usual magic of 'stalking' the leader throughout the race, as he did memorably in Laguna Seca 2008, Catalunya 2009 and others. So when Casey crashed, I personally was most disappointed. But h is by no means out of this competition!
After all the action was over we made our way back to the hotel, where we had arranged for the bar to remain open for us. The wonderful staff at the Mercure served us until at least 0230, and rarely has a beer tasted sweeter than in this dry country following a great weekend of Moto action!
Gordon Howell
April 2010
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