Jorge Lorenzo shines and wins under the Qatar floodlights in MotoGP

Rider Jorge Lorenzo put on a superb race at the Losail Circuit. The Yamaha rider took the win in the first race of the season at the MotoGP World Championship in Qatar, in a tremendous, heart-stopping finish that put the 99 at the top of the podium after riding at a great pace throughout the 22 laps and keeping a close eye on Casey Stoner. Dani Pedrosa did not fall short either: the Repsol Honda rider showed that after bad moments in training, he grows stronger in the race.

The start was spectacular for the 26. Pedrosa had not managed a good grid position after problems in the official sessions, but the Catalan put in a start in his own style, giving everything from 7th place and moving into 1st, although the joy didn’t last long, as Jorge Lorenzo passed him at the first corner and began to pull away. A little further back, Casey Stoner was not going to stand still: he switched into attack mode, passing his teammate and then the Yamaha rider, and took 1st, a position he would control until the final laps at Losail.

While Stoner dominated with a certain gap, behind him Lorenzo and Pedrosa held their positions and fought to close the distance to the Australian, though without much urgency, as everything seemed to point to a win for the world champion, with a battle between the Spaniards for the podium steps. But with only 5 laps remaining, both the 99 and the 26 began to close in on the Australian, reaching Stoner’s rear wheel with 3 laps to go. Stoner could not withstand the push from our riders and watched as first Lorenzo and then Pedrosa passed him.

It was a heart-stopping finish with a very strong Lorenzo, showing that his Yamaha copes very well with the wear on the Bridgestone tyres. So, full marks to the 99, who takes the first win of the 2012 World Championship season and arrives as leader at the second round of the championship at the Jerez Circuit. Dani’s performance was also impressive: he managed to overcome the champion and even attacked Jorge in the final part, but he finished this complicated Grand Prix in second place, a result that tasted like glory to the Catalan. For his part, Stoner said as he got off his Honda that he had problems with his forearms. Let us recall that the Australian suffers from the early stages of compartment syndrome, although Casey does not want to go through surgery.

Behind the excitement at the front, we had a fine battle for fourth place, Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso. In the end, the 35 managed to overcome the Italian and closed a very interesting duel between them. Further back there was also plenty of fighting for sixth place between Stefan Bradl, Nicky Hayden, Héctor Barberá and Álvaro Bautista. The Spaniards were very strong, but in the end the Pramac Racing rider went off track after a spectacular race from the 8 in Qatar. Álvaro, for his part, had to overcome many difficulties: in the warm-up he crashed, destroying the Honda, and had to start the race on the second bike. Still, the 19 took a step forward in this first round and will be a force to reckon with.

Bradl’s position in his debut deserves mention: a very positive 8th place. Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi finished what looks like one of his worst Grands Prix, crossing the line in 10th, just ahead of Ben Spies and the CRT MotoGP bikes.

Regarding the internal battle among the CRT riders, we had two moments. The first, with Yonny Hernández appearing to be the best on track, but then the experience and seniority of Colin Edwards weighed more heavily, and the Texan finished as the best in this category, from 12th place. For Aleix Espargaró it was a good debut from 15th place, as it was for Iván Silva in 16th, both improving their feelings in Qatar and eager to keep working harder and harder. The problems fell to Michele Pirro, Karel Abraham and Danilo Petrucci, who had to retire.

Without doubt we have witnessed a first round with an exciting finish. At last we have left behind those boring races; we have seen excitement and battle right to the end, and that is what MotoGP is all about. Moreover, our riders are the protagonists, with Lorenzo 1st and leader, and Pedrosa 2nd and strong.

Now comes the time for Jerez, the centre of the biking world. Are you in?

MotoGP Qatar 2012 Standings