Stoner opens defense with win

From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Casey Stoner is all but untouchable at the Grand Prix of Qatar, whether he’s the hunter or the hunted.

The defending MotoGP World Champion won this event Sunday for the second consecutive year on his Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati/Bridgestone, leading runner-up Jorge Lorenzo on his Fiat Yamaha/Michelin by 5.323 seconds. Dani Pedrosa finished third on his Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin, 10.600 seconds behind Stoner.

It was the first night race in the 60-year history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, as a 5.5-million watt system designed by Musco Lighting of Iowa illuminated the 16-turn, 3.343-mile (5.380km) desert circuit.

“That was a fantastic race, and I really enjoyed it,” Stoner said. “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."

Andrea Dovizioso joined Lorenzo as a rookie finishing in the top four, edging five-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi by 17-hundredths of a second for fourth on his JiR Scot Team Honda/Michelin after a thrilling duel on the final lap, during which the two riders traded positions three times.

American riders had a tough season debut. Colin Edwards, from Houston, finished seventh on his Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha/Michelin after starting third. Nicky Hayden, the 2006 World Champion from Owensboro, KY, finished 10th on his Repsol Team Honda Honda/Michelin, while John Hopkins, from Ramona, CA, placed 12th on his Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki/Bridgestone.

Stoner’s victory last year at this event was the surprising first of 10 wins en route to his first world title. This year, every rider in the MotoGP field is aiming for Australian Stoner, but the result was no different.

The Australian started fourth and held that position until lap 7. Then on lap 8 he blasted past Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Rossi for the lead, never trailing thereafter.

Spanish rookie Lorenzo, who started from the pole with a track-record lap, tried to stay with Stoner after his dramatic surge to the front but faded after lap 15.

The next race is the Grand Prix of Spain on March 30 at Jerez.

RESULTS
LOSAIL, Qatar ­
Results of the 22-lap Grand Prix of Qatar MotoGP race, with position, rider, country, motorcycle/tire, time behind winner:
1. Casey Stoner, Australia, Ducati/Bridgestone
2. Jorge Lorenzo, Spain, Yamaha/Michelin, +5.323 seconds
3. Dani Pedrosa, Spain, Honda/Michelin, +10.600
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Italy, Honda/Michelin, +13.288
5. Valentino Rossi, Italy, Yamaha/Bridgestone, +13.305
6. James Toseland, Great Britain, Yamaha/Michelin, +14.040
7. Colin Edwards, United States, Yamaha/Michelin, +15.150
8. Loris Capirossi, Italy, Suzuki/Bridgestone, +32.505
9. Randy De Puniet, France, Honda/Michelin, +33.003
10. Nicky Hayden, United States, Honda/Michelin, +38.354
11. Marco Melandri, Italy, Ducati/Bridgestone, +44.284
12. John Hopkins, United States, Kawasaki/Bridgestone, +49.857
13. Shinya Nakano, Japan, Honda/Bridgestone, +49.871
14. Toni Elias, Spain, Ducati/Bridgestone, +58.532
15. Sylvain Guintoli, France, Ducati/Bridgestone, +58.930
16. Anthony West, Australia, Kawasaki/Bridgestone, +1:05.643
17. Chris Vermeulen, Australia, Suzuki/Bridgestone, +1 lap
18. Alex De Angelis, San Marino, Honda/Bridgestone, +6 laps
Fastest lap: Stoner, 1:55.153, Lap 14
Pole lap: Lorenzo, 1:53.927 (track record)

POINTS
Riders: Stoner 25, Lorenzo 20, Pedrosa 16, Dovizioso 13, Rossi 11, Toseland 10, Edwards 9, Capirossi 8, De Puniet 7, Hayden 6, Melandri 5, Hopkins 4, Nakano 3, Elias 2, Guintoli 1.
Manufacturers: Ducati 25, Yamaha 20, Honda 16, Suzuki 8, Kawasaki 4.

MotoGP SUPPORT CLASS WINNERS
250cc: Mattia Pasini, Italy, Polaris World Aprilia.
125cc: Sergio Gadea, Spain, Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia.

NEXT RACE
Grand Prix of Spain, Jerez, March 30. Round 2 of 18.