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Casey Stoner sits atop his Ducati - Source: Reuters -
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Australia's Casey Stoner has questioned the decision to run the
season-opening Qatar MotoGP race a day after it was washed
out.
The race, due to have begun on Monday, was re-scheduled for Tuesday
(NZT) after it was cancelled when torrential rain fell just minutes
before the start.
Stoner had dominated all practice and qualifying sessions on his
Ducati and had been set to start the race from pole position.
But officials had no choice but to cancel the race, leading to an
organisational headache and massive extra costs in a sport
desperate to save money.
"It's just unlucky with the weather," said Stoner, the 2007 world
champion, who was bidding for a third successive win in
Qatar.
"It can be a good idea or it can be a bad idea to race on Monday. A
lot of money has been spent on keeping people here at a time when
we are trying to cut costs.
"It's disappointing it's happened like this."
After lengthy negotiations, it was decided to reschedule the race
for Monday night at 2100 local time (0600 NZT Tuesday).
Circuit organisers were preparing to use three special machines to
clear the track of excess water throughout the day.
The decision to call off the race on Monday will renew controversy
over the wisdom of racing at night.
Had the rain fallen in the day, at least riders would have been
free from the blinding glare caused by the lights bouncing off a
soaking wet track.
Ironically, it rains on only eight days on average in Qatar each
year - and on just one day in April - while summer temperatures can
reach a sweltering 45 degrees.
Valentino Rossi, who was second on the grid behind Stoner,
described the washout as "a big disappointment."
"We wait six months for the first race of the season, but when you
decide to have a night race, it's risky," Rossi said.
"No-one expected these conditions in Qatar."
Earlier, the 250cc race, which was won by Spain's Hector Barbera,
on an Aprilia, had been cut from 20 to 13 laps, and delayed by 40
minutes as officials scrambled to slot in the showpiece MotoGP for
primetime European TV audiences.
"The race was very difficult but it's a dream to win," said Barbera
who finished ahead of French duo Jules Cluzel and Mike Di
Meglio.
Italy's Andrea Iannone was declared the winner of the 125cc race
which was halted after only four of the scheduled 18 laps as the
track was swamped.
Spain's Julian Simon was second with Sandro Cortese of Germany in
third.
"The race was really short. It would have been too dangerous to
race to the end on a track made slippy by the rain and the sand,"
Iannone said.
"Vision was also reduced because of the reflection of the lights in
our visors."
