Doha, Qatar: The floodlights of Lusail International Circuit have illuminated some of MotoGP’s most memorable moments, from Valentino Rossi’s close battles to Marc Marquez’s last-lap duels with Andrea Dovizioso.
More than two decades after the circuit staged its first premier-class race in 2004, the MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar remains a fixture associated with close racing and dramatic finishes.
The desert circuit has witnessed the arrival of future champions, the revival of established stars and victories decided in the closing corners. Rossi and Marco Melandri went head-to-head in 2005, while Marquez and Rossi produced a memorable fight for victory in 2014. The Marquez-Dovizioso rivalry added two more Lusail classics in 2018 and 2019.
The event’s night-race setting has become part of its identity, with the premier class again scheduled to race under the floodlights on Sunday.
That history sets the scene for another eagerly awaited weekend, with the Qatar Grand Prix scheduled to go ahead amid uncertainty over regional tensions.
The focus now turns to the track, where the championship battle could take a decisive turn under the lights. The sprint race will add another important dimension to the weekend, with points available before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
For Marquez, the Qatar round presents his first opportunity to secure an eighth MotoGP world title. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider arrives with a 44-point advantage over his closest rival, Jorge Martin of Aprilia Racing, with two more round remaining after Qatar.
Marquez – a double winner in Qatar in 2014 and 2025 - can clinch the crown in Qatar by extending his advantage over Jorge Martin by 30 points and over Marco Bezzecchi by eight points across Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The Ducati Lenovo Team rider has 74 points still available over the final two rounds after Lusail, while a maximum haul of 37 points is available to a rider who wins both races over the weekend.
Martin, meanwhile, faces a crucial weekend in his bid to keep the title race alive. The Aprilia Racing rider arrives in Qatar after missing both the sprint and Grand Prix in Malaysia due to a broken wrist sustained at the Australian GP.
His participation at Lusail remains subject to a medical assessment today, leaving his title challenge dependent on his fitness. Martin, the 2024 world champion, has vowed to fight until the end, saying he would continue not only for himself but also for his team.
If he is cleared to ride, he will need a strong points haul to put pressure on Marquez, while Marco Bezzecchi could also emerge as a challenger to the championship leader’s title ambitions.
The sprint could prove significant, offering an early chance to gain ground or protect an advantage before the main race.
There will also be attention on the rider line-up. Alex Marquez is set to miss the Qatar round after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder, with Iker Lecuona stepping in for Gresini Racing.
Fermin Aldeguer is due to return after recovering from a fractured right hand sustained in Indonesia. Joan Mir remains in doubt after withdrawing in Malaysia while Raul Fernandez is also arriving after pulling out of the Sepang event.
The weekend programme begins today with media activities and the press conference. MotoGP track action starts tomorrow, with first practice at 14:45 local time and the main practice session at 19:00. Saturday brings second practice at 14:00, qualifying from 14:40 and the sprint at 19:00.
Sunday’s 22-lap Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 19:00, following the MotoGP warm-up at 14:40 and the Moto3 and Moto2 races.
