Ducati rider Casey Stoner saw off the challenge of world champion Valentino Rossi to claim victory in the reconvened first MotoGP race of the season in Qatar.
The curtain-raiser had been postponed after heavy wind and rain on Sunday but Stoner was undeterred as he completed his third victory at Losail International circuit, just outside Doha.
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The 23-year-old Australian finished ahead of defending world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy and Jorge Lorenzo of Spain. Yamaha rider Rossi crossed the finish line 7.771 seconds behind Stoner.
“I feel stronger than last year so this makes for a great start. I am close to being a 100% fit. I think the team put in a real effort this whole week,” Stoner said. “We managed to find the right set up though it was difficult.”
By the end of the race that advantage had crept up to seven seconds as Stoner, who had been fastest in every session this weekend, controlled proceedings from the front.
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Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Colin Edwards finished fourth having gained two places from his starting position of sixth.
Rossi moved his Fiat Yamaha into second place on the third lap, at the expense of Loris Capirossi who minutes later crashed spectacularly out of contention. Stoner by then was running two seconds clear, and Rossi had him in his sights, but not for long before the Ducati rider opened up the power, topping 200mph on the straight, to extend his winning advantage to almost eight seconds.
Rossi said he was happy despite his second place finish.
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“I did well in the second half of the race, but I am happy with the start of the (new) season,” Rossi said. “We have started worse than this so I am happy (with second spot). The track was very different from Sunday.”
Losail Circuit: Qatar Grand Prix - Race Results:
1.C.Stoner (Ducati Marlboro)
2.V.Rossi (Fiat Yamaha)
3.J.Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha)
4.C.Edwards (Yamaha Tech 3)
5.A. Dovizioso (Repsol Honda)
6.A.DeAngelis (San carlo Honda)
7.C.Vermeulen (Suzuki)
8.M.Kallio (Pramac Ducati)
9.T.Elias (San carlo Honda)
10.R. DePuniet (Honda LCR)
11.D.Pedrosa (Repsol Honda)
12.N.Hayden (Ducati Marlboro)
13.S.Gibernau (Ducati)
14.M.Melandri (Kawasaki)
15.Y. Takahashi (Scot Honda)
16.J. Toseland (Yamaha Tech 3)
17.N.Canepa (Ducati Pramac)
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