The first GP race in the Middle East will be held at the Losail International circuit in Qatar this weekend. With no experience at the track (no one has even practiced there), expected scorching temperatures, and a track that features both 16 turns and an extremely long, fast straight, all of the participants have their work cut out for them.
Perhaps, the tire manufacturers have the biggest worries this weekend. The tug-of-war between grip and durability will be played out on a new, demanding surface. More than anything, this race may tell us something about the rivalry developing between Michelin and Bridgestone in MotoGP.
