Sure, I love my open-wheel auto racing, but that doesn't mean I don't like the stuff that goes on two wheels as well. When "them furriners" from Formula One decided to up and leave IMS's schedule, they were replaced by "them furriners" in MotoGP -- one of the most exciting racing series on the planet. Those MotoGP fellows are all set to take to the bright jewel of the deep, dark deserts of Qatar, Losail International Circuit.
Last year was the first time that someone realized it was feasible to set up lights around a road course, and MotoGP got the jump on the nighttime fun last year at Qatar, with Casey Stoner winning on his Ducati.
This year looks like it could be fairly similar. Stoner blasted into the weekend on his bright red Ducati by putting it on the top of the time sheets in practice, then taking pole from defending champion Valentino Rossi by nearly half a second. Those two will sit next to each other on the first row and I'm sure will run away from the rest of the field with their battle for first.
It's something we saw a lot of last year, notably at the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, where Rossi pulled a Zanardi-esque move through the dirt at the Corkscrew to get past Stoner before Stoner got crossed up and went off in the last corner (video). Even though Rossi ended up running away with the championship last year, the battles between he and Stoner were really fun to watch. Take their dramatic battles of a year ago and throw in a dark sky and bright lights and it should be magical.
If I have to pick one rider to win, I'm going to go with Stoner. He has been strong all weekend and has been very good in the past in Qatar.
The race is on Speed Channel at 10PM eastern tomorrow night. Watch it!
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