Qatar

A secret newly revealed to the outside world. It only began issuing tourist visas in 1989, but after a slow start Qatar has begun to reap the benefits of its new openness. Visitors are welcomed to a land of glitzy new hotels, towering sand dunes, ancient rock carvings and distinctive architecture.

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Date: 9 March 2008
Venue: Losail
Track length: 5380m
Laps: 22
Race length: 118.360km
2007 winner: Casey Stoner (Ducati)

The Losail circuit is the result of a multi-million dollar project and staged the first Qatar Grand Prix in 2004 after beiong built within a year. Located out in the desert the track is unsurprisingly affected by local climatic conditions; track temperatures can reach a scorching 50 degrees while sand blown onto the track can cause grip problems for the riders.

MotoGP 2008 racing calendar