Will MotoGP in the dark be a turn on??

Ever since it was announced last year, questions have been raised as to exactly how it will work. Is it going to succeed? Will it be dangerous? Will we actually see anything and ultimately what is the point?

With just days to go before the first bikes spill onto the Doha circuit in Qatar, last minute preparations are underway to make sure everything runs smoothly.

The Qatari government has forked out more than £7million to have the floodlights installed to a piece of desert the size of around 70 football pitches.

Those familiar with the circuit will be only too aware just how desolate this spot is. Notoriously empty grandstands rise up from sand dunes, grass verges and run-offs are actually slippery astro-turf and the only neighbours are the handful of camels living nearby.

The plan is to illuminate the track so visibility is at a maximum, although following a night test last month, some riders complained that shadows were making it difficult.

That said, those who have complained were, strangely enough, the ones who hadn't been able to better their previous lap times around there.

The concept of night racing is hardly a new one. Endurance events like Le Mans 24-Hours have been running in the dark for years, and even the BTCC experimented with a couple of night races at Snetterton during the mid 90s.

But does MotoGP really need it?

The die-hard fans would argue that no, it's a pointless exercise and a waste of money, but perhaps it could be a bigger success than they would it give it credit for.

After all, here is a championship which, however you look at it, is suffering.

Eighteen bikes on the grid is not the glowing example we should be seeing from what is widely regarded as the premier motorcycle racing class. In fact, it's pretty dismal.

Add to this the fact that the star of Valentino Rossi - the man who has brought more fans to the sport than anyone else in history - appears to be wavering, and suddenly we are looking at a series which needs something special to bring in the viewers.

And should the reigning champ, 22-year-old wonderkid Casey Stoner be fastest out of the box this weekend, it could well be that the race needs anything it can to keep it interesting.

Its hard to say just how this twist in MotoGP is going to play out, but I have to admit to being more than a touch intrigued, and you can guarantee I'll be firmly fixed to Eurosport on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

And if its a success, could it be the start of a whole new era in GP racing?