Qatar is always a test for the riders, the conditions are hot and sweaty, the bikes are getting their first outing in race conditions and the pressure is on.
Moto3:
Moto3 started off in fine fashion for the classes first Grand Prix. There was a solid battle up and down the field, the main being for the podium.
Championship favourite, Maverick Vinales had a close battle with rookie Romano Fenati who put in a fantastic performance, chopping and changing the lead with Vinales throughout the race. Vinales broke away from the Italian during the last few laps to take the win, Fenati was guaranteed 2nd place (providing he didn't slip up - which he didn't) however the 3rd and final place on the podium was very much up for grabs. Sandro Cortese, Luis Salom and Miguel Oliviera were all in contention. All on a charge on the last lap it was pole sitter Cortese who made a brave move to take 3rd from Salom.
[1st-Maverick Vinales, 2nd-Romano Fenati, 3rd-Sandro Cortese]
Moto2:
2012 started no different in Moto2, exciting racing from the start, followed by controversy and a Marc Marquez win!
Where do i start? From start to finish the race order was constantly changing. Pol Espargaro got off to a great start leading the race, he was closely chased by Marquez, Andrea Iannone, Esteve Rabat and Thomas Luthi, with all of them going deep and off line at some point during the race.
With no clear leader throughout the majority of the race it was tactical Marquez who kept calm and calculated, well and truly putting the doubters to rest after his eye injury, he made all the right passes to take 1st from Iannone who came 2nd. Joining them on the 3rd step of the podium was Pol Espargaro thanks to Luthi who ran wide after clashing with Marquez earlier on.
In my opinion Marquez didn't cut Luthi off, touching each others back-to-front wheels, intentionally. Luthi was not a happy rider after the race, unnecessarily hitting Marquez on the arm on the cool down lap in fury which is never a good move.
[1st-Marc Marquez, 2nd-Andrea Iannone, 3rd-Pol Espargaro]
MotoGP:
The first five lights of the season went out and the race in Qatar was underway. Pole sitter Jorge Lorenzo got off the line and lead the pack in to the first corner. Dani Pedrosa aka 'the pocket rocket' is the master of getting a good start, he whipped out his trick once again and jumped up to 2nd from starting 7th on the grid.
Casey Stoner wasn't going to let them both get away and claimed the lead on Lap 3, the Australian went on to pull a two-second lead from the pack and looked as though he was on to a winner.
Both Yamaha Tech 3 riders Andrea Dovizioso and 2011 rookie of the year Cal Crutchlow had a race of their own for 4th place. Crutchlow was the fastest of the pair and finished in 4th position, both riders are determined to prove themselves for a seat in the team next year as only one will get the chance to ride for Tech 3 in 2013 as the other seat has been promised to Moto2 rider Bradley Smith.
Rookie LCR Honda rider Stefan Bradl had a fairly lonely race running in 6th, until the final few laps when he came up against Nicky Hayden and Alvaro Bautista who both overtook him demoting him to 8th place. A fine opening race for the promising young German.
Talking of Nicky Hayden, who is now in his 10th year of Grand Prix racing (congrats Nicky, here's to many more) pushed his Ducati to the limits, crossing the line in 6th - a result which i think is a good start for the team and Nicky but with teammate Valentino Rossi finishing in a dismal 10th position, needs a re-evaluation of what exactly is gong on with the multiple world champion. If his teammate is able to finish in 6th and the other Ducati's such as Hector Barbera finishing in 9th, you've got to question if it is the bike or the rider? One thing is for sure Valentino isn't a rider that accepts not being on the podium.
A place behind Rossi was Yamaha rider Ben Spies who had a tough race slowly dropping down the order with what he says as a beat up bike after enduring several high speed crashes over the weekend, one to forget for the Texan, hopefully he'll be back to top form in Spain.
With the race coming alive towards the end few laps when the riders push their skills further to the limit in a bid to get a higher result, Casey Stoner dropped back to 3rd, where he finished, after suffering from arm pump and bike chatter. Not a way you want to end any race however teammate (and they only have each other this year instead of three riders at Repsol Honda) took full advantage and fought with Lorenzo for the win. There weren't enough laps in the race for Pedrosa and he crossed the line 2nd, the win went to pole sitter Jorge Lorenzo after a sweaty, intense race under the Losail lights.
[1st-Jorge Lorenzo, 2nd-Dani Pedrosa, 3rd-Casey Stoner]
Next race: Spain.
Before that though will be the F1 Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.
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