As MotoGP™ is joined by sister categories Moto2™ and Moto3™, a total of 95 riders will race at Losail over the weekend. They wouldn’t be there without their teams, however, and as many as 1,400 staff will be working in and around the paddock – 100 of which will be drafted in from a selection of support companies.

Some 800 people are involved in the organisation of the event, whether it be the 350 marshals and track workers to the 300 promoting the race. From Dorna Sports alone, 180 people will be on-site in order to ensure that the operation runs smoothly.

It’s not just the commercial rights holder that travels to the circuit. An average of 600 journalists from 54 different countries around the world will head to each Grand Prix this year, amounting to a staggering journalist count of 10,500 across the 2013 campaign. Perhaps the numbers involving freight are even more spectacular…

Freight for overseas races in 2013 – the facts:

•   3 Boeing 747 jumbo jets will transport equipment, including BMW M safety cars
•   600 giant containers will be filled with material
•   40 trucks will be used for trips to and from international airports
•   Just under 90,000 kilometres (56,000 miles) will be completed in the air in 2013
•   Anything between 260-270 tonnes of equipment will be flown to each race

The freight includes bikes and team gear (180 tonnes), Dorna’s TV equipment (50 tonnes), promotional and advertising tools (23 tonnes) and timing equipment (7 tonnes).

From 2013 onwards, a new pressure is placed on the shoulders of those involved in logistics. Even before the chequered flag flies in Qatar on Sunday night, some freight will already be in transit as the championship heads to Austin, Texas for the first time.