‘Circuit of the Year’ award for Losail

The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) is proud to announce that it has been nominated as the best organised round of the 2009 MotoGP series’ by a panel that included officials, riders, manufacturers and team representatives.

The award for MotoGP ‘Circuit of the Year’ will be presented today at a dinner after the final race of the season in Valencia.

“This is a huge moment for Qatar and for the QMMF and something for which we are understandably proud,” said Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, President of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation.

“To compete on an organisational level with the best circuits in the world after just seven years is special for us. We are really only beginners in terms of experience and that makes it extra special for myself and everyone who has worked so hard at the Losail circuit in Qatar.”

The Losail Circuit hosted a round of MotoGP for the first time in 2004 – the race was won by Sete Gibernau on a Honda- and kick-started this year’s series with a thrilling floodlit race in April, which was won by Casey Stoner on a Ducati.

Italy’s Valentino Rossi clinched the premier title in Sepang recently to add to his previous eight Grand Prix World Championship titles and the 18-race series reaches its conclusion in Valencia today.

Al-Attiyah also announced in Valencia that the Losail circuit will undergo improvements during the close season in readiness for pre-season testing and the opening round of the MotoGP season in Qatar on April 11th.

“We are already working on getting everything in order for the 2010 season and track improvements will begin after next weekend’s Endurance races at Losail,” said Al-Attiyah.

“We are working on asphalting the run off areas on the corners of the track and preparing the track set-up for the official tests in February and March.”

The QMMF is keen for the Losail track to conform to a high standard of both FIA and FIM licensing regulations.

Al-Attiyah also announced plans to send a young Qatari rider into the new Moto2 category of next year’s MotoGP series. “We are currently negotiating with several teams through Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, to make this happen and hope to announce further details of the project as soon as possible.”

Moto2 is set to replace the 250cc category from 2010. This new category is intended to be a prestigious yet cost-effective accompaniment to MotoGP. Honda has been appointed as the single engine supplier and teams will also use a control tyre supplied by a single company.