After the double-header in the Americas, MotoGP moves to Qatar for the 4th round of the season.
The Qatar GP has been held 21 times, plus an additional edition of the Doha GP in 2021, although the MotoGP class did not race in 2020 due to the pandemic. The first Qatar GP took place in 2004 as the fourth-to-last race on the calendar. From 2007 to 2022, and even last year, the Qatar GP served as the season opener.
The GP data
According to Brembo technicians who work closely with all MotoGP riders, the 5.38 km Lusail International Circuit falls into the category of medium-demanding tracks for brakes. On a scale from 1 to 6, it has been assigned a difficulty rating of 3, despite featuring 5 "High" braking zones. However, these are spaced out by at least 3 corners that allow the braking system to cool down. Each lap, riders use the brakes for 33 seconds, which accounts for 30 percent of the race duration.
The toughest corner
The most demanding corner for the braking system at the Lusail International Circuit is Turn 1, due to the preceding 1.068 km straight. MotoGP bikes decelerate from 340 km/h to 92 km/h through a braking phase lasting 5.1 seconds, during which they cover 277 meters. To achieve this, riders apply a force of 5.7 kg on the Brembo brake lever, experiencing a deceleration of 1.5 g, while brake system pressure reaches 12.2 bar.
Under the lights
The 2008 Qatar GP was the first race in MotoGP history to be held under artificial lighting. To ensure optimal visibility for the riders, a lighting system with 3,600 lamps powered by 44 generators was installed. The front row was locked out by Yamaha, with Jorge Lorenzo on pole, alongside James Toseland and Colin Edwards. However, in the race, Dani Pedrosa took the lead early and attempted to break away. On lap 5, he was overtaken by Valentino Rossi, who in turn was passed three laps later by Casey Stoner. The Australian went on to win aboard his Ducati, finishing 5.3 seconds ahead of Lorenzo.
The glowing discs
The night race allows spectators to witness the glow of carbon brake discs under heavy braking—a phenomenon typically obscured by sunlight in daytime races, even on circuits that are tough on brakes. At the Qatar GP, held after sunset, the thermal stress on carbon discs becomes visible. Under daylight conditions, brake discs would need to exceed their temperature by more than 120°C to produce the same glowing effect.
The evolution of carbon
The carbon brake discs used by Stoner’s Desmosedici in 2008 were vastly different from those used today. In 2021, Brembo introduced ventilated discs, initially in 320 mm and 340 mm diameters, followed by the introduction of 355 mm discs the following year. Ventilation channels enhance heat dissipation by increasing airflow compared to solid discs, helping to lower overall temperature. This ensures optimal brake system performance throughout the entire race, including the final laps.