Musco Brings Light of Speed™ to First-ever Grand Prix Night Race The lighting system is able to meet the needs of riders, spectators, and television while accommodating the challenging turns of the road-course track, at times a quick 180 degrees. "The sun has set over the desert sands of Qatar...We are ready and waiting," said the MotoGP TV announcer on the evening of Sunday, March 9, 2008. As the bike engines roared, the crowd cheered and helmets shined as one leather-clad rider after another raced for 22 adrenaline-filled laps at the Losail International Circuit. But all this excitement at the history-making 2008 Commercialbank Grand Prix seemed even more remarkable because it took place after sundown. The 2007 defending World Champion, 22-year-old Australian Casey Stoner, took the lead early on and never lost it. He crossed the finish line under the checkered flag a full five seconds ahead of the 2nd place finisher. "We were initially worried that we wouldn't be able to manage such a huge project in such a short time, but thanks to Musco Lighting we did that very comfortably and created history," said the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiya, pictured at a press conference alongside Musco President Joe Crookham. 22-year-old Casey Stoner of Australia took home the trophy as the winner of the 2008 Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, the historic first-ever Grand Prix to take place at night. In just 6 months, Musco mobilized to first design this largest-of-its-kind lighting system and then manufacture and ship more than 113 ocean cargo containers and 44 air-freighted crates of equipment to light the track for race day. The lighted area is equivalent to 70 full-sized soccer fields. – Photo courtesy of Giorgio Neyroz   MotoGP Facts MotoGP is the world's premier motorcycling championship, with 18 Grands Prix in 16 countries each season. Each track is unique in shape, length, and number of turns. Riders hail from all over the globe, and each week the TV viewing audience for the sport equals the audience for the Super Bowl. MotoGP bikes travel at speed over 200 mph and can not be legally ridden on public roads. Riders wear knee sliders which regularly make contact with the asphalt as they go around corners at lean angles close to 55 degrees. You can see the sparks fly! Some riders will go through 100 pairs of knee sliders in a season. The 22-lap races begin from a grid, with starting positions determined by qualifying times. Pit stops are rare, rather than the norm, and usually indicate mechanical problems. Safety was paramount when considering the lighting project, since riders travel at over 200 mph and are sometimes only inches away from one another on the track. +44 (0)1942 811 777 +353 (0)61 375 620 e-mail: eurosales@musco.com Musco Home Page Company Overview | Permanent Lighting | Temporary Lighting News & Events | Contact Us | Request Information | Careers Site Map © 2007 - 2010 Musco Sports Lighting, LLC. All rights reserved.