Casey Stoner was crowned himself as the best rider in Losail Circuit, Qatar. The Australian rider is a winner, allowing him to temporarily lead the standings. Former world champion of 2007 outperformed the weight of two rival, Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and team-mate at Repsol Honda, Dani Pedrosa, who had to settle for second and third positions. While the Ducati rider, Valentino Rossi, who started from the sequence of nine, finished in seventh position.
With this result, Stoner, who won the pole position, making the victory of "double-debut", having done similar things with Ducati in the 2007 season. Because the fight at Losail even this is his debut for the Honda, after he decided to leave Ducati at the end of last season. Stoner also claims himself as the king's Losail Circuit, for the fourth time since he won here since 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. Last season he failed to finish due to an accident, when leading the race.
Qatar Grand Prix results also showed that Honda performed very consistently since pre-season testing until the race. Although the "tainted" by Lorenzo of Yamaha, but they managed to master the top five positions.
The race drama
When a start-done, Rossi made a surprise because a direct accelerate at the first corner. However, the effort "The Doctor" to get past the Repsol Honda duo and Lorenzo did not work, because he was too broad so that he was runoff to the rear. Meanwhile, Pedrosa, who started from the pole number two, leading the race, followed by Lorenzo and Stoner.
Entering the second lap, Lorenzo took over the course of the race. Yamaha rider Pedrosa was crucified, which followed two teammate, Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso. Since then, the war between the trio of Honda with Lorenzo held tight. Towards the end of the second lap, Stoner's lead, and Pedrosa was stalking her. The more exciting battle because Marco Simoncelli began participating pressure from the top five positions.
Still on the same lap, misfortune experienced by Randy de Puniet who slipped when his bike was cornering. Catastrophe for Pramac Ducati Loris Capirossi increase after returning to the pits with a problem on his motorcycle on the fourth lap.
Entering the third lap, started to show the distance between the first group (positions 1-5) with a second group led by Rossi. After that, the fourth turn on lap Stoner and Pedrosa, who fights alone to fight the number one podium for Repsol Honda the duo is getting away from Lorenzo, Dovizioso and Simoncelli.
Sixth lap, Pedrosa nudged forward. Spanish rider was the fastest in 20 minutes of warm-up with a 0.160 second advantage from Stoner, made it past the teammate. As for the second group competition, Rossi, 5.472 seconds adrift of Pedrosa, began to get pressure from the Yamaha rider, Ben Spies.
One lap later, a change in composition at four positions because Simoncelli got past Dovizioso. Italian rider continues surging to near Lorenzo, which started to separate from Pedrosa and Stoner. Lorenzo 1.624 seconds adrift.
If Pedrosa and Stoner fought tight to fight the number one position, a similar incident happened between Rossi and Spies. Two of these riders fight it out to compete for the sixth position.
After nine laps, Pedrosa is still leading the race with Stoner in the sequence followed by two and Lorenzo in third position. Dovizioso and Simoncelli completing the five leading riders. While Rossi fight with Ben Spies to fight the order of six.
Lap ten, Simoncelli boldly accelerate his bike to pass Dovizioso. 24-year-old Italian was now in fourth position.
On lap eleven, going a cross-crucify action, where Spies had shifted Rossi when straight-line path, before the crucified again by Rossi in the corner. In leading position also changes, because Stoner could poke towards the bend to the right, so the Australian rider was leading the race course.
This is where the starting point for Stoner to victory, as he slowly away from the chase of Pedrosa with a difference of more than 1 second. Former Ducati rider is more comfortable being in front, while Pedrosa would get pressure from kompatriotnya, Lorenzo, who began to "heat" in the lap to -13. Only one lap later, Lorenzo managed to go up one strip to the second position.
Changes also occur in the second group, where Spies finally get past Rossi on lap 14 for sixth position. Obviously, Rossi has problems on the physical (shoulder injury) for a little shake when trying to control the Desmosedici GP11. When he would accelerate and the vibration motor makes his right leg had to be lifted so that he reduces the urge, which makes Spies took the opportunity to crucify and straight away.
Entering the 17th lap, the battle at the front of the place very exciting - except for Stoner, who was safely in front. Pedrosa and Dovizioso improve their position, in which Pedrosa back "bloat" Lorenzo won the duel when straight-line path, as well as Dovizioso, which shifts Simoncelli.
However, only one final lap Pedrosa in second position after Lorenzo managed to take advantage when cornering to the right. From the inside, the world champion Pedrosa managed to force a bit wide so that he rose again one strip. While Stoner, who recorded the fastest lap, getting comfortable being alone in front for more than 3 seconds ahead of Lorenzo. Composition has not changed until they pass the finish line.
At the podium, the rider waving the Japanese flag. This is part of their sympathy over the tragedy of earthquake and tsunami that hit the "Land Sakura", which forced the Japanese GP also had to be postponed until September or October.
MotoGP 2011 second series will take place in Jerez, Spain, on 3 April.
Qatar GP Results
1. Casey Stoner AUS Honda Team Repsol 42m 38.569s
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP Factory Racing 42m 42.009s
3. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team ESP 42m 43.620s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 42m 44.511s
5. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 42m 45.927s
6. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 42m 49.037s
7. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 42m 55.000s
8. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha Monster 43m 4.862s
9. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 43m 5.985s
10. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 43m 7.489s
11. Cal Crutchlow GBR Tech 3 Yamaha Monster 43m 13.108s
12. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar Team 43m 13.398s
13. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 43m 16.526s
DNF:
Toni Elias Honda ESP LCR MotoGP
Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing Team
Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing Team
