INTERVIEW-Motorcycling-Melandri up for awesome Qatar night race

By Mark Meadows

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy, Jan 10 (Reuters) - New Ducati rider Marco Melandri is eagerly awaiting the season-opener in Qatar although he hopes it will not be too chilly during MotoGP's first night race.

"It will be awesome. An amazing event for everybody. I can't wait to test the weekend before the race," Melandri told Reuters at Ducati's winter ski retreat in northern Italy.

"I'm just a bit worried about the weather. Maybe at night time it might be a bit cold. The track will be cold."

Melandri's new team mate, world champion Casey Stoner, is less excited about the March 9 event despite racing under lights as a 10-year-old dirt track rider.

"We will not be able to know (how it works out) until we have done it. It is a lot different with the lighting.

"As long as it is fine to race it is no problem. If it was in another country you would have dew coming down getting on the track," the Australian told Reuters.

Some commentators have criticised the night race as a gimmick with MotoGP continuing to battle for audiences with the Superbikes championship.

However, Melandri believes the two disciplines can live side by side.