Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's French rider Fabio Quartararo celebrates after winning the Tissot MotoGP Grand Prix of Doha at the Losail International Circuit, on Sunday. PIC: MOTOGP
FIM President Jorge Viegas yesterday applauded Qatar for conducting ‘two successful’ Grands Prix to kick start the new MotoGP season on time this year.
Last year, Qatar's iconic Losail International Circuit (LIC) was set to open the 2020 MotoGP season when the COVID-19 situation disrupted the international sports calendar around the world. As a result, the opening round of the 2020 season in Qatar was cancelled.
However, over two back-to-back weekends, LIC hosted riders for two opening rounds of the 2021 season to lift the mood in the MotoGP camp.
Here are excerpts from a Q&A session with the FIM President:
Q: How did it feel to see last year’s Grand Prix in Qatar cancelled?
A: One year ago, I came here but unfortunately we could not have the MotoGP race. It was the beginning of the pandemic. Qatar authorities accepted to host Moto2 and Moto3 as the riders of those two classes were already here and we hosted their races. Then we got information that things got bad in countries like Italy. So the race in Qatar was cancelled. The paddocks were empty and it felt strange.
Q: How do you see the last four weeks of testing and racing in Qatar?
A: In the minds of the Dorna and FIM, we always wanted to compensate Qatar for not having their race last year. So the best way to compensate Qatar was to have a double Grand Prix this year.
This was welcomed by Qatari government and it was a big success. I am very happy to see start the season with fabulous races in Qatar. We enforced a strict plan that we call the bubble. The people of MotoGP were completely separated from the normal guests at the Ritz Carlton. There were no positive cases while we were here. We safely conducted two races in two weeks.
Q: How did MotoGP react to Qatar’s offer of vaccinating riders and team officials coming into the country?
A: I had the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister of Qatar (for offering vaccine to entire MotoGP family on their arrival in Qatar) when he came to watch the races. It was really very helpful. It was a great gift from Qatar government to the MotoGP family.
Few months ago I had spoken to (Dorna chief) Carmelo Ezpeleta to see if Qatar government could give vaccines to everybody. We knew that if everybody was vaccinated it would be great. And here we are, everybody is vaccinated. The MotoGP family was here for the testing three or four weeks ago. Most got the shots then. Some are waiting to get their second shots after the race. They will get the shots and then leave Qatar today or tomorrow.
Q: How do you see Qatar’s motor sport culture evolving over time?
A: I think Qatar is doing everything right. Qatar is not just doing circuit racing. Qatar is doing off-road events also. QMMF President Abdulrahman Al Mannai is now a board member in FIM after being elected in January. I come to Qatar to develop motor sports.
He’s very helpful. He’s doing a great job. Qatar riders have to start very young. You have all the conditions to start young. You saw Fabio Quartararo win the MotoGP here. I used to give him awards when he won races when he was 10, 11 or 12. You have to start young. They are doing a lot of work at the circuit. They are constructing three new buildings. They will have the new asphalt around the circuit. There are plenty of developments taking place. Everything is working perfectly. The new LED lighting is fabulous too. Qatar's Prime Minister loves motor sports. He went to meet the riders when he came to watch the races. The Prime Minister was extremely happy with the show. He watched the race with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Q: How many TV viewers watched the races staged in Qatar?
A: We are close to matching Formula One’s stats (in live TV audience). We are getting almost the same numbers. Maybe we reached 600 million homes. This is a huge number. We made good promotion of Qatar through these two races. It showed the world how Qatar welcomed the MotoGP family. I have been coming to Qatar for many years. The Qatar of today is completely different from what it was 20 years ago. The country’s infrastructure is world-class. You have good transportation, you have very nice roads, you have incredible stadiums. That’s enough to get visitors here. And that museum – the National Museum of Qatar – is something out of this world. Qatar has invested wisely.
