GO NIGHT RACING? MAY 06

May 1, 2006 3:20 PM AEST

It sounded like an April Fool's day gag, but organisers of the Qatar MotoGP are seriously considering running a race at night, under floodlights.

Part of the plan stems from trying to counter the oppressive daytime heat, the other designed to use the novelty value of a night race to draw fans to an event that has been poorly attended so far.

Riders Safety Commission members: Valentino Rossi; Loris Capirossi; and Kenny Roberts Jr. took to the track prior to the race for some demonstration laps under the circuit's current lighting system. Rossi and Capirossi's reaction to the plan was lukewarm at best, both agreeing that a LOT more lights are required in order to run the event safely.