DOHA - World champion Casey Stoner helped make history on Thursday when night-time MotoGP testing took place for the first time ahead of the inaugural night grand prix to be staged at the desert Losail track here on March 9.
Stoner, on his Ducati, was the fastest man on the track in the early exchanges clocking a best time of 1min 55.368sec on a circuit illuminated by 1,000 floodlights, generating five and a half million watts.
"The first impression is that it's like playing on the video game 'Need for Speed'," said the Australian.
"It's definitely a lot different to what we are used to. It's not better or worse, just different.
"The most interesting thing is that with lower visibility, at least with regard to the imperfections on the track, you have to have more confidence than your instinct tells you to have. It's not a bad start though."
Former world champion Valentino Rossi, who won the race here two years ago, was unfazed by the unusual conditions as he clocked the nights ninth best time of 1:56.749.
Rossi said one of his Yamaha team's aims was to work with Bridgestone to find the best tyres to suit the conditions, which are cooler than during the daytime tests and races.
"There was a lot of curiosity about this night test and I have to say that I am quite satisfied," said Rossi.
"I think they have made a great job with the lights and you can ride quite normally, as if its day. The visibility is quite good so there is no danger for us; its really no more difficult than riding in the day.
"Maybe it would be better to move this night race to a period when the temperature is a little bit higher however, because at the moment its very cold here."
dj08
02/28/2008 23:04 GMT