MotoGP PREVIEW: GRAND PRIX OF QATAR

EVENT: Grand Prix of Qatar

WHERE: Losail Circuit, Doha, Qatar. Circuit is 3.343 miles (5.380 km), with 16 turns. Race is 22 laps.

WHEN: Sunday, March 9. It is the first night race in MotoGP history.

2007 RACE WINNER: Casey Stoner, by 2.838 seconds over Valentino Rossi

2007 POLE WINNER: Valentino Rossi, 1 minute, 55.002 seconds

U.S. TV: 6-7 p.m. (ET), Sunday, March 9, Speed

THE AMERICANS: U.S. riders Nicky Hayden (Owensboro, Ky., Repsol Honda Team), John Hopkins (Ramona, Calif., Kawasaki Racing Team) and Colin Edwards (Houston, Yamaha Tech 3) will compete in this race. Hopkins finished fourth, Edwards sixth and 2006 World Champion Hayden eighth in 2007 at Qatar.

•Nicky Hayden: “I’m just really happy to be going racing again because that’s what it’s all about. Qatar is going to be an interesting weekend: First race of the year, and it’s running at night, too. The actual track is really good. The layout is awesome, the grip is good, the surface is good, there’s plenty of run-off, the safety’s great, it’s everything you could want. But you just don’t have 100,000 people going wild for their favorite rider, and it’s missing that bit of history. I think running it at night is going to make a difference to that. It’s going to be real interesting how the tires work at night and the temperature and the wind. I think it’s going to be cool. I’m really looking forward to it because I enjoyed riding at night in the tests. You do need some ponies for that front straightaway because you come on to it quite slow, and you need to accelerate because it’s a long straightaway. I’ve spent a lot of time under lights doing dirt track at home, but until t! he tests here, the only time I’d ridden a road racer in the dark was practicing for the Suzuka Eight Hours in 2003, and that was really cool.”

•John Hopkins: “I’m real excited to start the year. I feel my (groin muscle) injury (suffered in testing) should be fine come race day as the pain has subsided a lot compared to how it was feeling a week ago. We have had a restful few days, which I feel has helped it, and I have been doing small exercises to strengthen the muscles, which have improved the condition dramatically. I feel good. Plus, once the adrenaline kicks in, I know I will be ready to go.”

THEY SAID IT: “It’s a whole new experience for us to race at night. The NASCAR guys do it in America and Formula One will race at night later this year, but I’m sure this race will create a lot of interest and a lot of spectators will be watching to see how it goes. For me, the toughest part is staying awake. I’m an ‘early to bed’ type as I said before the test, but I’m sure I’ll be all right!” – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP rider Chris Vermeulen, about starting the Grand Prix of Qatar at 11 p.m. local time

FAST FACTS: This is truly a night race, as the MotoGP race will start at 11 p.m. local time …The system used to illuminate the track, designed by Musco Lighting of Iowa, produces nearly 5.5 million watts of light … Eleven of the 18 full-time riders on the MotoGP grid have won a world championship in either Grand Prix, World Superbike or World Supersport racing. The 11 riders have combined for 24 world titles, including Americans Nicky Hayden (MotoGP world title) and Colin Edwards (two World Superbike titles). Valentino Rossi leads the list with five MotoGP titles and one each in 125cc and 250cc … The arrival of rookies Alex de Angelis, Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and James Toseland has made the MotoGP grid considerably younger in 2008. The average age of the 18 full-time riders is 26 years, 19 weeks. Last year’s average rider age was 29 years, 2 weeks … If Valentino Rossi finishes in the top three this weekend, it will be the record 100th podium finish of his sterling MotoGP career ! … Fiat Yamaha Team rookie Jorge Lorenzo won the 250cc event at Qatar from pole each of the last two years. Lorenzo led the final session of MotoGP night testing Feb. 29 at Qatar at 1:54.552, quicker than the track record … Defending World Champion Casey Stoner led the first night of testing at 1:55.330 on Feb. 28 … A rider who has finished on the podium in the season-opening race has gone on to win the title that year in 43 of the 59 seasons of Grand Prix motorcycle racing … The 125cc and 250cc classes also start their respective seasons this weekend. American Stevie Bonsey, from Salinas, Calif., is riding an Aprilia for the DeGraaf Grand Prix team in 125cc.

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Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008. Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.