(MotoGP Release) The historic Commericalbank Grand Prix of Qatar weekend under the Losail floodlights proved to be an all-round success, with great action in all three classes as the first ever night races fittingly marked the start of the World Championship’s 60th season.
The unstoppable MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner started his title defense in style with a five second victory in the premier class, followed across the finishing line by Fiat Yamaha’s brilliant MotoGP rookie and 250cc champion Jorge Lorenzo in second and Dani Pedrosa in third – the Repsol Honda man riding superbly from eighth on the grid despite his lingering hand injury.
Mattia Pasini of Polaris World announced his arrival in the 250cc class with a storming win on his quarter litre class debut, the Italian closely followed home by Pepe Team Toth’s Hector Barbera, with Red Bull KTM’s Mika Kallio taking the final podium spot.
The single cylinder category contest concluded with Bancaja Aspar’s Sergio Gadea on the stop step of the rostrum, the Spaniard battling through the pain barrier with an injured shoulder to take maximum points ahead of second placed Joan Olive of Belson Derbi and Stefan Bradl of Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing in third.