Nothing Wrong With Michelin Tyres...

Casey Stoner (Ducati) carved his way through the field to win the Qatar MotoGP season opener last night. MotoGP rookie Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) was second with Dani Pedrosa (Honda) third.

A great showing by the three MotoGP rookies who finished in the top six, but Stoner's performance – ten places ahead of the next best Ducati – showed that he has been able to pick up where he left off at the end of the last season. 5th placed Rossi and 8th placed Capirossi (Suzuki) were the only other Bridgestone runners in the top ten.

Also great to see Toseland prepared to push past other riders in the opening laps; as Barros and Biaggi found, World Superbike riders are prepared to get stuck in from the start and Toseland has lost none of his edge in the move up to MotoGP.

Stoner, 1st place: "That was a fantastic race and I really enjoyed it - it was like being back in 125s! The first few laps were really hectic, there were guys bashing fairings and I just tried to stay out of the way. When I got my chance to get through I took it and from there I just focused on setting my pace. Jorge rode brilliantly - it wasn't an easy race by any means, especially at the start. Over the first few laps I was struggling a bit for grip but then the tyres got up to temperature and improved. We knew we had a pretty good package for the race but obviously we couldn't be sure that things would go as well as that. I want to say thanks to everybody at Ducati for a great job, my team, the guys at Bridgestone... Thanks everybody."

Lorenzo, 2nd place: “For sure I couldn't have expected a better debut than this and I am very, very excited to be on the podium. Second place is an amazing result for me and I had great fun. The start and first few laps were a bit crazy and really a bit of a scary time for me, but anyway I managed to make it through and get past some riders to get to second.”

Pedrosa, 3rd place: “Tonight's result is unbelievable, we didn't expect this, so I'm very happy. Seven days ago I was almost last in the tests here but my team have worked really hard, bringing both 2007 and 2008 bikes here and making many changes - they've been fantastic. For the first time I understand the meaning and the legend of HRC and I'm so proud to be part of this.”

Toseland, 6th place: "To start off with this result is just great for me. I've realised now that with everybody's support, which I'm getting from the Tech 3 team, Yamaha and Michelin, it is possible to be competitive. To finish just behind Valentino in my very first MotoGP race is surreal. The first couple of laps were pretty hectic and I put a move on Jorge that was quite close. That's just a lack of experience racing against these guys. I've raced against the same boys for seven years and know exactly what they do and when they do it. Jorge put his bike over my nose just as I was committed for the pass. I've just got to get used to how these guys take the corners so I can pass them a bit safer. But he left the door open a bit and I went for it.

“There was no harm done and after that I was trying everything I had to pass Andrea and Valentino. I was catching up fractions of time all lap and I'd just get with them at the last corner and they'd stretch away from me on the straight. There is nobody bad on the brakes so you can't catch it up really. You can chip away and chip away but the times I got close they were side-byside and it was like a wall for me. And I wasn't prepared to take two of them out in my first MotoGP with sixth place in the bag I'm a bit emotionally drained to be fair but what you learn in 22 laps around these guys is priceless and I can't wait for Jerez."

2008 MotoGP Qatar - Doha/Losail 09/03/2008

Race 1 - 22 Laps

15 Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 0'58.930

250, 125 Grand Prix

Pasini won the 250cc race, ahead of Barbera and Kalio, and in the 125cc class the victory went to Gadea, with Olive second and Bradl third. Brit Scott Redding was fifth in his first 125 Grand Prix, while Bradley Smith slipped back to 16th place after a steering damper mounting bolt broke.

Click here for the official MotoGP website...

Casey Stoner - Ducati

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