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Earlier Qatar race start time denied

Would the time of Sunday’s race be changed? The answer came late on Friday night, after impassioned pleas from the riders to return MotoGP to last year’s 7pm start time fell on deaf ears.

Last year’s race was moved from the previous 9pm to 7pm, but this year it was scheduled an hour later.

The issue was first raised by Jorge Lorenzo at the tests last week, after a planned on-time half-race simulation ran him into bad grip problems and a tumble as the track temperature dropped and dew started to form.

Rossi, Qatar MotoGP 2019

By the time race weekend rolled around, all rider were singing the same song.

“For sure we will talk about it in the (Friday) Safety Commission,” said Lorenzo; with everybody echoing his hopes of returning to a 7pm start.

Marquez also pointed out that an earlier race would be a better show.

Marquez, Qatar MotoGP 2019

Several riders mentioned that conditions were changeable, but overall the argument was badly undermined by the 8pm free practice, in which the outright circuit record was smashed by three tenth by Marquez.

Rescheduling would have required a major rejig of the race-day programme to fit in with predetermined TV scheduling, but Lorenzo was disappointed that the effort was not made.

Lorenzo, Qatar MotoGP 2019

“I believe they could have done it, for the safety of the riders. Almost all the riders agreed. Yesterday at 6pm it was very cold. On Sunday, we would be lucky and if it can be okay, but if we are unlucky …”

By Michael Scott

Photos GnG