MADRID: The Losail International Circuit will be featured on the FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar until at least 2026 following a joint announcement by QMMF President Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
The two parties committed to continue the agreement which has seen the Qatar round become a permanent fixture of Grand Prix racing since 2004.
Yesterday morning at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, Al Attiyah and Ezpeleta penned a 10-year deal from 2017 onwards, meaning the event will run for at least 23 consecutive editions since it’s addition to the calendar in 2004.
Since then the Qatar GP has become a key point of the Championship.
It has acted as the season opener since 2007 and really made its mark in 2008 when it switched to a night-race format, a first in the history of MotoGP.
Al Attiyah declared: “We are very excited about continuing our partnership with MotoGP and securing our place in the calendar for another decade. The night race is a spectacular event that we’re proud to host and we aim to keep perfecting this partnership.”
Dorna Sports SL CEO Ezpeleta said: “Since its first edition in 2004, the Qatar GP became a trademark of the MotoGP World Championship and continues to provide a unique set-up for racing, so we’re pleased to seal this agreement and extend our relationship beyond 2016. Losail International Circuit always creates a magic atmosphere and the brotherhood of the two companies has grown throughout the years.”
Built in just under a year by 1,000 workers at the cost of $58m, the track opened in 2004 to the inaugural Marlboro Grand Prix of Qatar, won by Sete Gibernau.
In addition the circuit hosted the 2006 Grand Prix Masters of Qatar won by Nigel Mansell.
The track is 5.380 km in length, with a main straight of just over a kilometre at 1,068 metres. It is surrounded by artificial grass to stop the sand encroaching on the track.
In 2007, Losail added permanent outdoor lighting for night races.
The first night race in MotoGP history was the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar in March 2008. AGENCIES
