MOTORREADS: Benchracing PM Extra 12 April 2009

[Mika]

SPOILER ALERT

The Qatar MotoGP season opener will air at 10 PM Eastern on Speed TV. Don’t read any further if you don’t want to know the outcomes. Watch the race and come back for the post race news.

Need to know? Read about it here and know what to look for as you watch the race.

BENCHRACING:

Pre-Races news from MotoGP.com and FIM-live.com
The hour of truth approaches for MotoGP riders (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Qatar+Sunday+preview)
Losail ‘Best Grand Prix of 2008’ (http://www.fim-live.com/en/news/news-details/article/translate-to-english-losail-elu-meilleur-grand-prix-2008/)
Warmup concludes Stoner clean sweep (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Losail+warmup+MotoGP)
Wramup Results (http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/2009/QAT/MotoGP/WUP)
Bautista gets hotter in 250cc warmup (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Losail+warmup+250)

Race news from MotoGP and FIM-Live.com

Lannone takes victory in rain-curtailed 125cc race (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Iannone+takes+victory+in+raincurtailed+125cc+race)

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Look for a Benchracing weekend wrap up in Tuesday’s Motorreads.

crash.net (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/145257/1/nicky_hayden_back_on_track_at_qatar.html): Nicky Hayden back on track at Qatar

The problem with night races for motorcycles and fans
motogpmatters.com (http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/04/12/rain_stops_play_at_qatar_125_race_red_fl.html): Rain stops play at Qatar
And
autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74434): 250cc race delayed and shortened
Follow up thoughts
motogpmatters.comMotoGP Qatar Race delayed, cancellation looking increasingly likely
And in the end
autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74437[/url): Qatar MotoGP race called off

bbc.co.uk (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7996183.stm)Qatar MotoGP washed out by storm

Stay tuned there are conflicting reports about running the race Monday or moving the event to later in the season at another location.

autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74439): Capirossi – Runt Qatar in Balaton slot

WEC (http://we.abc-wec.com/cms/index.php?lang=en)
Can-Am GNCC Racing (http://www.gnccracing.com/)
AMA Pro Racing (http://www.amaproracing.com/)
MotoGP (http://www.motogp.com/)

motocrossmx1.info (http://www.motocrossmx1.info/news.php?idNews=629)

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[Mika]

FIM
Qatar in doutbt

April 12, 2009,
The opening race of the FIM MotoGP World Championship season in Losail has been postponed, just minutes before it was due to begin, because of torrential rain and high winds.

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The weather had played havoc with racing earlier on Sunday with the 250cc delayed for 40 minutes and reduced from 20 to 13 laps while the 125cc race was red-flagged after just four laps.

Reports suggest officials in Losail will now hold the race on Monday, although no official confirmation has yet been forthcoming.

That decision will most probably hinge on the results of a meeting between the manufacturers, which began soon after the race was called off, to determine whether it is logistically possible for them to remain in Qatar for another day.

Pole-sitter Casey Stoner had led the riders out for their warm-up lap when the race was sensationally called off.

Should the race get the go-ahead Stoner will be gunning for a hat-trick of season-opening victories under the lights of the Losail Circuit, just outside Doha.

Doha has an average eight days of rainfall per year.

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motogp.com (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Barber+takes+the+glory+in+shortened+250cc+contest) : Barberá takes the glory in shortened 250cc contest

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[Mika]

Joint statement on Qatar race postponement

Sunday, 12 April 2009

FIM, IRTA, Dorna and the QMMF (Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation) have released the following statement on the MotoGP race postponement at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar.

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Due to adverse weather conditions, the MotoGP race at the Commercial bank Grand Prix of Qatar has been postponed.

Following discussions between FIM, IRTA, Dorna and the QMMF, a proposal was put to the MotoGP teams to run the race tomorrow evening. Thanks to a huge effort from all parties concerned, and out of respect to fans of motorsport around the world, it has been decided that the race will take place on Monday 13th April, 2009.

The warm-up will run at 6.30pm local time (GMT+3), with the race scheduled to start at 9pm.

FIM Road-racing Commission President, Mr. Claude Danis stated, “For safety reasons it was not possible to race in the night due to the reflection of the lights on the track. This decision had already been taken a few years ago when we first decided to run a night race in Qatar. On behalf of the FIM I am very happy that we could postpone the race until tomorrow. It is important for the championship, especially at the first race, and I would like to thank Dorna, QMMF, IRTA and the MotoGP teams for helping reach this decision together.”

Dorna Sports CEO, Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta added, “After the arrival of a large storm we had to cancel the race as it was unsafe. The QMMF offered us the choice to run the race tomorrow, and as it was a very important decision we wanted to consult with all the team managers. The postponement was accepted by a large majority. This has been an extraordinary decision in extraordinary circumstances.”
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