The 2019 MotoGP season-opening Qatar Grand Prix will start at 20:00 local time as schedule despite calls from riders to have this changed on safety grounds.
The Qatar race is due to get underway at 20:00 local time this Sunday, though a number of riders have voiced concerns over the safety of racing on the circuit past that time this week.
Past 20:00, the temperature begins to drop and humidity rises, leading to the forming of dew on the circuit and a reduction in grip.
The first night race in Qatar in 2008 was held at 23:00, but over the years has been moved to earlier in the evening to avoid racing on the dew.
Last year's race at Losail was held at 19:00, though this was done to allow for a greater window to get underway should rain appear following the delay of the 2017 event due to rainfall just moments before the start.
Following a crash late into the final night of the Qatar test last Monday, Honda's Jorge Lorenzo said he would ask series owners Dorna to have the race start moved, though no changes were initially made.
Lorenzo once again reiterated his position during the pre-event press conference on Thursday, with the majority of other riders in attendance agreeing racing at 19:00 would be “less risky” and ultimately “better for the show”.
The idea to move the race start time forward was discussed during Friday's Safety Commission meeting at Losail, but the race will go ahead as planned at 20:00 [17:00 GMT], with television commitments thought to be part of the reason for this.
The first rounds of the 2019 Moto3 and Moto2 season will get underway at 17:00 [14:00 GMT] and 18:20 [15:20 GMT] respectively.
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