Qatar 2012 MotoGP recap

The MotoGP season got underway this past weekend with the running of the Qatar GP at Losail circuit. Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) utilized Bridgestone's softer compound to push hard and secure pole position over reigning champion Casey Stoner by a margin of 0.221 seconds.

On race Sunday, it was good to be a Spaniard, as Jorge Lorenzo's fighting spirit carried him to victory, his first at the Losail circuit. In the beginning Casey Stoner was very strong and opened up a gap, however, towards the end he struggled and had to drop his pace. As Lorenzo had no problems he capitalized on this and passed Stoner for the lead, while keeping hard charging Dani Pedrosa at bay.

"From lap three you are really sideways," said the Spaniard when asked about his new Bridgestone tires. "It is fun to ride because you are always sliding and trusting the traction control but it is not so easy."

Lorenzo leading the Honda's

Dani Pedrosa rocketed from seventh to second at turn one, but then was passed by his team mate Stoner as he set his eyes on polesitter Lorenzo. Pedrosa was able to stick with the second place rider Lorenzo throughout the middle stages and later the duo caught up to Stoner, as his performance started to fade with only a few laps remaining. Pedrosa briefly passed Lorenzo for second only to have the Yamaha rider responding in kind and then putting Stoner between them.

Barbera about to pass through Rossi

As for 79 time MotoGP winner Valentino Rossi, his struggles continue with a poor performing Ducati. He finished the race in tenth place, 33.6 seconds behind Lorenzo. At one point he was even pushed off the track by privateer Hector Barbera, also on a Ducati!

Rossi on his Ducati: "The problems with the bike haven't changed, and neither have my requests. It's unridable, and it doesn't make much difference what track we are on".

The podium results:
1. Jorge Lorenzo, Spain, Yamaha Factory
2. Dani Pedrosa, Spain, Repsol Honda
3. Casey Stoner, Australia, Repsol Honda

Next race will be the Spanish GP at Jerez, on April 29.

Thanks for reading.

Source: MotoGO, Crash.net
Photo credit: Ducati Corse, The Australian