FIM MotoGP World Championship Losail International Circuit Doha, Qatar March 20, 2011 Race Results (all on Bridgestone tires): 1. Casey STONER, Australia (HONDA), 22 laps, 42:38.569 2. Jorge LORENZO, Spain (YAMAHA), -3.440 seconds 3. Dani PEDROSA, Spain (HONDA), -5.051 4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Italy (HONDA), -5.942 5. Marco SIMONCELLI, Italy (HONDA), -7.358 6. Ben SPIES, USA (YAMAHA), -10.468 7. Valentino ROSSI, Italy (DUCATI), -16.431 8. Colin EDWARDS, USA (YAMAHA), -26.293 9. Nicky HAYDEN, USA (DUCATI), -27.416 10. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Japan (HONDA), -28.920 11. Cal CRUTCHLOW, Great Britain (YAMAHA), -34.539 12. Hector BARBERA, Spain (DUCATI), -34.829 13. Karel ABRAHAM, Czech Republic (DUCATI), -37.957 14. Toni ELIAS, Spain (HONDA), -4 laps, DNF, crash 15. Loris CAPIROSSI, Italy (DUCATI), -21 laps, DNF, mechanical 16. Randy DE PUNIET, France (DUCATI), -22 laps, DNF, crash 17. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Spain (SUZUKI), DNS More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing: JUST FEW WORDS, REDEMPTION IN JEREZ Incredible day for the Pramac Racing Team today at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. After a very promising warm up, where Randy De Puniet has registered the fifth fastest time, the race did not go as expected. After a few turns from the start the French rider has lost control of the back of his bike that raised in the air and the front wheel hit the clutch of team-mate Loris Capirossi. The Italian rider has miraculously managed to stay on track, but two laps later he returned to the pits for a sharp pain in his left hand. He went immediately to the mobile clinic, the X-ray to his hand showed no fracture but a bad bruise. A race that leaves speechless, but only a great desire to prompt redemption at Jerez in two weeks time for the first MotoGP race in Europe. Fabiano Sterlacchini Pramac Racing Technical Director “I think this is the first time that such a thing happens to me: both riders out of the race after a few turns on a clash between them. These things happen and there’s not much to say about it. We are naturally very disappointed because after the warm we were expecting a good race. Now we have to think about the future, we are only at the first race of the championship and we will have many opportunities to make up for it.” Loris Capirossi Pramac Racing rider DNF “Disappointed, but in racing these things can happen. I am very sorry it had to happen with my new team-mate who has no faults however. Again, anything can happen in racing. We now hope that fortune turns around and we will have better luck next time. The only positive aspect is that the hand is not broken, I felt a lot of pain and I had some concerns, but we will be in Jerez!” Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing rider DNF “I’m sorry for the fall and to have the misfortune to hit my team-mate. The rear tire was probably still cold on the left side and as soon as I opened the throttle the bike raised in the air and all of a sudden I found my nose on the ground. It ‘s really a shame because we were very confident after the good warm up that we had done. The only thing we can do do is think of Jerez where in two weeks time we will try to redeem this unfortunate weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda: Great race and win for Repsol Honda Team in Qatar The Repsol Honda Team completed a strong first round of the 2011 Championship as Casey Stoner took the top spot ahead of Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo with Repsol Honda team mate Dani Pedrosa in third and Andrea Dovizioso fourth. With this win, Casey Stoner completed a perfect weekend at the Losail International Circuit as he also took pole position and recorded the fastest lap of the race with a 1’55.366 set on lap 13. On the Podium, HRC President Tetsuo Suzuki received the constructors trophy. As a sign of empathy with the Japanese, Suzuki, Stoner and Pedrosa all wore the Japanese flag in support at this difficult time. CASEY STONER 1st “After a great pre-season, we came into this race weekend and everything kept getting better and better for us. This morning in warm up we had a few issues getting a good feeling with the bike carrying a full tank of fuel and this issue also affected us in the early part of the race, but we knew as the fuel level decreased and the tyres aged, that our bike would come back to us. Dani came past and we decided to follow to see where he was strong and where I was weak. Then when I started to feel more confident with the bike and had more grip and better turning, we decided to push forwards and take advantage. Tonight the bike was fantastic, as it has been for all the sessions and I’m very proud to be racing for Repsol Honda and to take my first victory in the first race. It is a great way to start the season! I’m really happy with how everything has gone and the way the team has all worked together, a big thanks to Honda and my best wishes to Japan in this difficult time”. DANI PEDROSA 3rd “I’m disappointed, not for the race I had, but for the physical problems I had again with my left arm. Already in practice I felt something, but I was not sure if it could be that bad, at the end I couldn’t grab the handlebar and in the last 7-8 laps I couldn’t use the clutch at all. I was just holding the arm and I was suffering a lot. The bike was perfect all race, I had the chance to win but I had a very hard time, one of the toughest races of my life. I don’t know what can I do because should be ok after the rest I had this winter. I did the tests and everything was in order. In the winter tests I was a bit weak, but I felt alright, so I don’t know what we have to do. I feel sorry for my team as well, because the bike was very good, fast, perfect also in the corners. I’m proud of how I’ve been riding, I’ve been fighting with Casey in this circuit as nobody else did in the past but a t the same time I feel sad because I don’t know what the future will bring. I know we will go to Jerez in two weeks, where the bike will run very well, and I’m very strong and fast, but I don’t know what will happen”. ANDREA DOVIZIOSO 4th “I’m a bit disappointed because our target was the podium but all in all I had a good race. In the first laps I thought I could fight for the podium and I’m satisfied with my pace, I also did my fastest lap on the last lap. We ran with a strong pace and the bike was constant but we need to make another step forward to stay with Casey and Dani. I lost time in the fight with Simoncelli, his passing manoeuvre was at the limit in my opinion. This was a crucial moment because we lost time which we needed to fight for the podium. I want to thank my team for the work done on the bike. I’m also happy of my physical condition because I finished the race without being too tired although racing here is demanding”. More, from a press release issued by Monster Yamaha Tech 3: Edwards and Crutchlow make positive start in Qatar The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team made a bright start to the 2011 MotoGP World Championship in Qatar, Colin Edwards and Cal Crutchlow finishing with points scoring finishes in the season opening night race. Edwards made a blistering start from the 10th position on the grid and was looking to force his way into the fight for the top six when he lost time by running slightly off line at the second corner. Dropping back into 10th behind team-mate Crutchlow, he quickly moved up to ninth to launch a pursuit of 2010 team-mate Ben Spies. He closely followed his compatriot for the opening five laps, the 37-year-old setting a consistently fast pace in the mid-1.56 bracket. He shad owed the fast starting Hector Barbera until lap nine when he moved into eighth position. But he’d lost too much time trying to overtake the Spaniard to maintain the pressure on Spies and he finished eighth. Crutchlow made an impressive MotoGP debut at the 5.38km Losail International Circuit having started in front of Valentino Rossi and Edwards on the grid. Hampered again by the nasty left little finger injury he suffered during the pre-race test in Qatar less than a week ago, Crutchlow rose to the occasion brilliantly, fighting for the top ten for most of the 22-lap race. He was right on the back of a group battling for ninth that was headed by Nicky Hayden, Hiroshi Aoyama and Barbera. But like Edwards earlier in the race, Barbera proved tough to overtake and Crutchlow lost contact with Hayden and Aoyama with three laps remaining. He was rewarded for his determined performance when he swept by Barbera on the fi nal lap to finish a hugely encouraging debut in 11th. Colin Edwards 8th 8-points “That was the best I could do and I’m happy with the way I rode and my guys at Monster Yamaha Tech 3 gave me a good bike as always. A top eight is pretty good considering the speed of the guys in front of me and I was pretty much where I thought I’d end up based on practice. I got a good start and thought the only way I’ve got any chance of getting a top six is to take a few early risks. I went round the outside at the first corner and made up a couple of places. But I had a couple of moments, one when I nearly ran into Ben, which wouldn’t have been a good move. I thought I might have had something for Valentino early on but even when he’s not 100 per cent he can still ride pretty good. I’m never happy with eighth but we got some decent points and we can move on to Jerez with confidence.” Cal Crutchlow 11th 5-points “I’m pretty happy with that and honestly I’d have liked to have got a top ten after how well qualifying went. I couldn’t keep up with the group that included Nicky and Aoyama because it was tough to pass Barbera. They passed Barbera and I then overtook him to chase them, but he got me back immediately and let them get away because his pace dropped off quite a bit. But he’s got a fast bike and that makes it hard to make a pass and stay in front of him. I was happy to be in the fight for the top ten for as long as I was and the experience gained is invaluable to help me progress in MotoGP. I wanted to finish and get a race under my belt, so it was mission accomplished. The next couple of races will be tough because I don’t know the circuits but I’ll be doing my best for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad.” Herve Poncharal Team Manager “Colin had a really good start and it was really interesting for the first few laps as he tried to battle with Ben and Valentino. When you look at the final position he was the best non-factory rider and in this field that is a big achievement. It is clear the top seven are really fast but Colin did his maximum with the package we’ve got. I am also very pleased with Cal. We didn’t know what to expect because of his inexperience and the finger he damaged in the test was a bad injury. But he was able to battle with Aoyama and Hayden, who are world champions. It was a good pass on Barbera too, who has a lot more experience than him and that result that will give him more confidence for the next race. In Jerez his finger will be a lot better and I’m sure he can learn the track quickly, so we are looking for another positive result.” More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda: TOUGH START OF THE SEASON FOR ELIAS AT QATAR GP Losail, 20 March: With a track temperature of 20°C the premier class riders got underway the first GP of the 2011 season at Losail race track at 22:00 local time with Stoner gaining his first victory aboard his RC212V ahead Lorenzo and Pedrosa. LCR Honda MotoGP racer Toni Elias has not begun his 2011 season in the best way as the Spaniard has struggled to find the proper set up of his Honda machinery at the 5.380Km desert track. The Moto2 World Champion started from the last spot on the grid after a difficult 3-day practices and suffered a front-end crash at 3 laps to go when he was in 14th position. Elias escaped unhurt from the accident and will be back on track with his squad at Jerez de la Frontera on the 1st of April. Elias – CRASHED: “Well… this first week end has been very tough for me and the Team. Since the 2-day test prior to the race we have been struggling with the bike set up and even after. We have tried different adjustments to find the right feeling on this track but at the end we could only lap at low 1.58. And that was my lap time during the race from the first lap till the crash. We knew we could not do better than this as we knew our limit but I feel sorry for the crash. I want to cancel this bad week end and start again in Jerez”. More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: Casey Stoner had a titanic tussle with his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar in the first round of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship to take all 25 points on his debut ride with the factory team. Stoner eventually finished 3.440s ahead of defending World Champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing), with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) completing the podium. It had been eight years since a Honda rider won the opening round of the MotoGP season, and Stoner claimed the 24th premier class win of his career under the Losail floodlights. The riders observed a one-minute silence in honour of the victims of the Japan earthquake ahead of the start, and the 22-lap race was run in the best conditions of the weekend without the strong winds that had intermittently been present through the practice sessions, and the race produced a thrilling spectacle with close encounters throughout the pack. Pedrosa took the lead from the start of the race and then it was the reigning World Champion, Lorenzo, who took up the mantle as race leader. What followed was fierce between the two Spaniards and Stoner, with the Repsol Hondas eventually pulling an advantage. Stoner and Pedrosa swapped position for the lead on several occasions, and at the midway point the pole sitter increased his pace and set off for the chequered flag. This left the two Championship rivals from 2010 battling for second place and it was the Yamaha rider who picked up the 20 points. Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) were involved in a close battle for fourth place throughout the race and it was the Repsol Honda man who came out on top. There was much anticipation surrounding the debut of Valentino Rossi with the Ducati Team. The Italian finished seventh after racing Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing), and after swapping places with the American the Yamaha got the advantage over the Ducati to take sixth place. Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was eighth, with Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) completing the top ten. RookieCal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) managed to take 11th place on the last lap ahead of Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar Team). GP debutant Karel Abraham (Cardion ab Motoracing) was the final rider to pass the chequered flag and earned himself three points, with just 13 riders finishing the first race of the season. It was not the MotoGP return that Toni Elías (LCR Honda) had been hoping for as he crashed out towards the end, whilst the Pramac Racing team suffered bitter disappointment as Randy de Puniet fell on the opening lap, with his bike hitting that of team-mate Loris Capirossi and forcing the Italian to retire from the race. Moto2 Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) opened his season in style by taking the second Moto2 win of his career, having started from pole position for the first time in his GP tenure. The German rider led from the start of the race and eventually won by a large margin of 4.330s. Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) grabbed second spot on the rostrum and gained the 14th podium of his career. After starting from 16th on the grid, the Italian clawed his way up to ninth at the end of lap one and was up to second place by lap nine. Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2) finished third after equalling his best ever qualifying start from third position. Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing) was overtaken by Alex de Angelis (JiR Moto2) on the last lap and dropped to fifth place. After a poor start from the front row, 2010 125 World Champion Marc Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) found life more difficult in his Moto2 debut and crashed out in the first part of the 20-lap race. Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) was sixth, beating Frenchman Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing) on the line in a close finish. Michele Pirro (Gresini Racing Moto2) was eighth, just behind the duo. Bradley Smith (Tech 3) was the best debutant recording a ninth placed finish, beating Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) inside the top ten. 125cc GP Title favourite Nicolas Terol (Bankia Aspar) took the top spot in the 125 season opener having dominated every session this weekend. The Spaniard won at the Losail Circuit last season and his victory in the 2011 opening round was by a large margin of 7.710s. The fight for the podium was hotly contested amongst a group of four riders, but it was Sandro Cortese (Intact Racing Team Germany) making his 100th Grand Prix start, who clinched second place with the fierce fight for the final podium position going to the experienced Sergio Gadea (PEV-Blusens-SMX Paris Hilton). He edged out Efrén Vázquez (Avant AirAsia Ajo) and Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) for third, who both followed close behind. Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) was next up in sixth position ahead of Alberto Moncayo (Team Andalucía Banca Cívica) and Luis Salom (RW Racing GP). The final two places in top ten went to rookies Maverick Viñales (PEV-Blusens-SMX Paris Hilton) and Miguel Oliveira (Team Andalucía Banca Cívica). Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) had been involved in the exciting tussle for the podium positions, but suffered mechanical problems with five laps to go, which dropped him outside of the top 10 at the end to finish 11th. More, from a press release issued by Ducati Marlboro: ROSSI AND HAYDEN FIGHT HARD IN RACE 1 Riding with characteristic grit and determination, Valentino Rossi finished the Grand Prix of Qatar in seventh place. The Italian rider dueled with Ben Spies for sixth place as long as the strength in his still-healing shoulder allowed, and he managed to maintain a good pace to the end. After starting from the fifth row, Nicky Hayden rode a comeback race, steadily increasing his pace and finishing ninth after a series of nice passes. Valentino Rossi (Ducati Marlboro Team) 7th “For sure we’re not here to get seventh-place finishes, but there are also positive things from this race, starting with the times, because we were lapping pretty quickly. I had a great start, and that was a nice feeling because the horsepower that this bike has really helps it to launch. Then I made a small error in the first turn, which is a shame because I got stuck behind Barbera for a few laps. Otherwise I would have been closer to Simoncelli and Dovizioso, since anyway there was a period when I lapped with them. I wouldn’t have beaten them though, because at the end of the race, I’m no longer able to ride like I have to. I’m not referring to the Ducati because even last year, after I hurt my shoulder, I had the same problems in the latter parts of the races, and since the two bikes are so different, it means that it’s really a matter of me not being physically right. It’s not just that. We also have to improve the bike because the others have clearly made a step forward since last year. Still, I learned a lot in this test and in this race, and we’ve already given very specific instructions about what must be done in the long term, in order to improve for the second half of the season for example. In the near term, on the other hand, we’ll work on the setup, we’ll keep gathering experience, and I’ll continue exercising and doing everything I can to recuperate physically.” Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro Team) 9th “I got a bad start in the race, and then when De Puniet crashed, I just about ran over him and had to come to a complete stop. I’m happy I didn’t run into him, but that was a bad break, because I was dead last with a gap to the next person. I started picking my way through, and once I got into ninth, I got into a decent rhythm and started doing my pace. I was trying to catch Edwards because I thought it would’ve been nice to have a last-lap race with him, but I didn’t quite get to him. It’s been a tough weekend for me on and off the track, but everybody around here is working to the maximum. They’re the first ones in and the last ones out. I can’t be happy with the ride, but I came from dead last, and my fastest lap was my last one. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s just one race, and no one can say we weren’t trying.” More, from a press release issued by Honda: Grand Prix of Qatar at Losail: race Sunday March 20, 2010 MotoGP race report Weather: dry, warm Temperature: 19 degrees ambient, 20 degrees track Crowd: 8,501. HONDA CLAIMS VICTORY IN SEASON OPENER Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda RC212V) continued the excellence he’d shown all weekend by leading a Honda onslaught in his first race as a member of the Honda family in the season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar under the desert lights of the Losail International Circuit. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) interrupted the Honda parade by finishing a distant second, with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) finishing third, Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda RC212V) fourth, and Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) a fighting fifth. Stoner had showcased his abilities on the Honda RC212V throughout pre-season testing, as well as in the run-up to the race. On the first race weekend of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, Stoner was fastest in all three practice sessions before taking the 27th pole position of his career with a blistering lap of the 5.380k circuit outside the capital of Doha. Though Stoner was on the pole, it was Pedrosa who got the jump and Lorenzo who was in front by the end of the first lap. But that was the only one he’d lead. Stoner led the next lap, but wasn’t able to get away, with Pedrosa applying constant pressure. The Spaniard made a pass on the sixth lap as the pair put a second on Lorenzo. The complexion of the race changed dramatically early in the second half as the fuel load went down and the tyres were worn. His confidence growing every lap, Stoner took the lead into turn 12, the first of the triple rights, and went to work. He set the fastest lap of the race on the 13th, a 1:55.366, with Pedrosa now 1.307 secs. back. More ominously, Lorenzo took .6 out of Pedrosa, who was in danger of losing second. Stoner pounded out the fast laps to the end, winning the opening round of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship by 3.440s. The win was Honda’s first in the opening round of the championship since 2003, when Valentino Rossi started the season with a victory at Suzuka en route to the title. The win was Stoner’s fifth at this track, with four in MotoGP and one in 250cc. It was also his 31st career victory and 24th in the MotoGP class. The victory puts him equal with three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey for seventh overall on the premier class wins list. Stoner began the 800cc MotoGP era by winning the World Championship in 2007 and, with engine displacement increasing to 1000cc in 2012, Stoner would like to finish the era with another world championship. Lorenzo caught and passed Pedrosa, but Pedrosa used the visibly superior power of the Honda RC212V to power by on the front straight. The scenario would unfold again and again, but eventually Pedrosa couldn’t keep the pace because of physical problems with his left arm and had to slow. Still, he finished on the podium. Just missing out was the third member of the Repsol Honda team. Andrea Dovizioso battled hard with fellow Italian Marco Simoncelli before seizing fourth decisively on the 17th lap. Dovi closed fast on Pedrosa at the end and was unhappy about missing the podium, but that opportunity was lost earlier while fighting with Simoncelli. Despite losing fourth place, Simoncelli was an ecstatic fifth after proving that he can run with the fastest riders in the world. Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) finished tenth in the first race of his second MotoGP season after an emotional start. The Japanese rider, and the rest of the MotoGP grid, observed a minute of silence prior to the race to honor the victims and survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The return to the MotoGP class wasn’t a successful one for Toni Elias (LCR Honda MotoGP). The 2010 Moto2 World Champion continued to struggle to get heat into his rear tyre on a cool evening. His night ended with a nasty crash on the 20th lap. Elias was slow to get up, though it was soon clear he wasn’t injured. Qualifying for the Moto2 race was a preview of what was to come, at least for one rider The pole position time of Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing-Kalex) was 1.736s faster than last year’s pole and the top 16 riders qualified faster than last year’s pole time. But it was Bradl who stood out. The 21-year-old German on the German chassis from Kalex Engineering sped to the lead with such pace that it left his rivals in awe. Lap after lap the lead grew until it was over 14s, at which point Bradl wisely backed off the pace. Still, he won by a handsome 7.710s. Not as well defined was second place. Andrea Iannone (Speed Master Suter) moved into the spot well in advance of the end of the race, but had to repel the repeated advances of a number of riders to secure the runner-up position. Swiss rider Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2-Suter) came from fourth with two laps to go to take third, passing Alex de Angelis (JiR Moto2-Motobi), the fourth place finisher, and fifth placed Yuki Takahashi (Gresini Racing Moto2-Moriwaki) over the final two laps. The MotoGP World Championship now returns to its European roots for the first race on the Continent in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain on the first weekend in April. Honda MotoGP Rider Quotes: Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda RC212V): 1st “After a great pre-season, we came into this race weekend and everything kept getting better and better for us. This morning in warm up we had a few issues getting a good feeling with the bike carrying a full tank of fuel and this issue also affected us in the early part of the race, but we knew as the fuel level decreased and the tyres aged, that our bike would come back to us. Dani (Pedrosa) came past and we decided to follow to see where he was strong and where I was weak. Then when I started to feel more confident with the bike and had more grip and better turning, we decided to push forwards and take advantage. Tonight the bike was fantastic, as it has been for all the sessions and I’m very proud to be racing for Repsol Honda and to take my first victory in the first race. It is a great way to start the season! I’m really happy with how everything has gone and the way the team has all worked together, a big thanks to Honda and my best wishes to Japan in this difficult time.” Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V): 3rd “I’m disappointed, not for the race I had, but for the physical problems I had again with my left arm. Already in practice I felt something, but I was not sure if it could be that bad, at the end I couldn’t grab the handlebar and in the last seven-eight laps I couldn’t use the clutch at all. I was just holding the arm and I was suffering a lot. The bike was perfect all race, I had the chance to win but I had a very hard time, one of the toughest races of my life. I don’t know what can I do because should be OK after the rest I had this winter. I did the tests and everything was in order. In the winter tests I was a bit weak, but I felt alright, so I don’t know what we have to do. I feel sorry for my team as well, because the bike was very good, fast, perfect also in the corners. I’m proud of how I’ve been riding, I’ve been fighting with Casey (Stoner) in this circuit as nobody else did in the past but at the same time I feel sad because I don’t know what the future will bring. I know we will go to Jerez in two weeks, where the bike will run very well, and I’m very strong and fast, but I don’t know what will happen.” Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda RC212V): 4th “I’m a bit disappointed because our target was the podium. but all in all I had a good race. In the first laps I thought I could fight for the podium and I’m satisfied with my pace, I also did my fastest lap on the last lap. We ran with a strong pace and the bike was constant but we need to make another step forward to stay with Casey and Dani. I lost time in the fight with Simoncelli, his passing manoeuvre was at the limit in my opinion. This was a crucial moment because we lost time, which we needed to fight for the podium. I want to thank my team for the work done on the bike. I’m also happy of my physical condition because I finished the race without being too tired although racing here is demanding.” Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V): 5th “I am delighted! I was a bit too nervous over the first few laps but it was so good to be racing at the front of the field that I almost didn’t finish the race! Joking aside, I am really happy because I thought my pace would be in the 1’56s but we were able to better it. At one point when I passed (Andrea) Dovizioso I thought I might be able to go after (Jorge) Lorenzo, but I made a little mistake and it broke my rhythm. Then at the end in the battle with Dovizioso I was slightly slower than him on used tyres and I dropped off. Anyway, it was great to see the others so close up and I am sure this was my best race maybe not the result but in terms of my consistency and the distance to the race winner. Now we need to take another step in the next race and have fun with the guys in the team, who have done a fantastic job.” Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V): 10th “When we had the minute’s silence at the front of the grid before the race for the tragedies in Japan I felt really emotional. On behalf of my countrymen I want to say thank you to everybody who has shown their support during this sad time. I had a tough race because of the start. (Randy) De Puniet crashed in front of me and I lost precious ground on the group. Then I got my pace together and recovered positions but it was a shame because I wanted to have a good race tonight. Anyway, I am still happy because I am sure that we will improve in the next race. My feeling with the team is perfect, we are getting on great and they believe in me, which is important if we are to grow together. I want to give them positive results and excitement.” Toni Elias (LCR Honda MotoGP RC212V): DNF “Well, this first weekend has been very tough for me and the team. Since the two-day test prior to the race we have been struggling with the bike set-up and even after. We have tried different adjustments to find the right feeling on this track, but at the end we could only lap at low 1.58. And that was my lap time during the race from the first lap till the crash. We knew we could not do better than this as we knew our limit but I feel sorry for the crash. I want to cancel this bad weekend and start again in Jerez.” Moto2 Rider Quotes: Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing-Kalex): 1st “It’s just unbelievable, because the weekend just worked so well for me. I’m just happy because I don’t find any words for that. From the beginning of the free practice we were so competitive and everything is going easy. A special thanks to my team because they did a great job and especially to my family because they give me so much support and they’re at home.” Andrea Iannone (Speed Master-Suter): 2nd “This was a difficult weekend for us. During the race we managed to start well, we moved up a few positions, lap after lap, and we reached the leading group. I was fighting for the second position and, in the end, I noticed I was faster than the other riders and that there was a chance to keep hold of the second spot. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I tried and we got there. I’m really happy. I want to thank my team for the work they made. They helped me to be fast and to score this great result in the Qatar GP. I hope things will keep going my way. Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2-Suter): 3rd “Yeah, it was for sure it was a hard race. In the beginning I tried to stay with Stefan (Bradl), tried to follow him, but it was just impossible. I didn’t have enough traction out of the corners, so I needed to let him go. And then I was in a pack and I had to fight with the guys, it was a good fight, a tough fight, and finally I’m quite happy to be on the podium and now I’m really forward to the next races because the feeling is good, the consistency is here. I think it’s going to be a good season for us. Yuki Takahashi (Gresini RacingMoto2-Moriwaki): 5th “It was important to finish the race tonight and I tried to do it in the best possible way. I got a good start but from midway through the race I started to feel the rear sliding and I lost a little feeling, which cost me a few positions and the opportunity to finish on the podium. Overall though I am happy and confident because I know that with this bike we can expect to do much better at the circuits to come.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha MotoGP Team: Lorenzo Goes All Out For a Sensational Losail Podium Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo delivered a perfect performance for the opening round of the 2011 MotoGP Championship under the floodlights of the Losail Circuit in Qatar tonight. The young Mallorcan started well off the line, leading the front pack briefly before settling into third behind Stoner and Pedrosa as they battled for the lead. With eight laps to go he hunted down Pedrosa and moved up into second. He surrendered the spot briefly for two laps then retook with a decisive pass, leaving the Spanish rider behind with an astounding burst of speed and posting 1.55.8 second lap times for the 20th and 21st laps. Lorenzo crossed the line in second for the hard won podium having closed the gap to lead rider Stoner to just 3.440 seconds. Fellow Yamaha Factory Racing rider Ben Spies had a less successful start, getting caught up into the first corner and dropping to eighth as the pack settled. The Texan quickly closed in on Hector Barbera in front, dispatching him after three laps to begin the hunt for Valentino Rossi in sixth. After several laps maintaining a distance of just 0.1 to 0.2 seconds Spies made a pass at the end of the start finish straight but carried too much speed into the corner, running wide and tucking back in behind Rossi. He built up again and in a mirror of the first pass took Rossi at the end of the straight, making it stick through the first corner sequence and then echoed his team mate with a startling turn of speed, dropping to a 1’55.812 on the 18th lap. By the time he crossed the line in sixth the gap to Rossi had built to 5.96 seconds. The Yamaha Factory Racing riders head to round two in Jerez in two weeks time with Lorenzo second in the MotoGP Championship standings on 20 points, team mate Spies sits in sixth with ten points. Jorge Lorenzo Position : 2nd Time: +3.440 Laps: I think maybe I am more proud of that podium than a race victory, that’s how I feel tonight. I feel very proud of myself and my team who never gave up and worked to give me the best bike that they can. I put everything I have inside into my riding on the track for the race from the start to the end and was on the limit every lap. I almost crashed on one corner but I managed to stay on the bike and finished in second position which is the best that I could do. Ben Spies Position : 6th Time: +10.468 Laps: That’s the first race of the year done and dusted, it wasn’t picture perfect and I got pushed out a bit in turn one, getting trapped behind Barbera and Rossi the first few laps. They were fighting together which meant I lost touch with the guys in front. Other than that it was a good race, I struggled to get by Valentino for a while, he was riding really well and he’s not an easy guy to get around! Once we were able to get past we set fast lap times and the bike was feeling good. It was just the first part of the race that didn’t pan out, I didn’t get a lucky break on the start. We race in two weeks so I’m happy to get back on it at Jerez. It’s the first race of the year, I didn’t make top five but we got some points so I’m happy. Wilco Zeelenberg Team Manager A fantastic result! I’m very pleased for Jorge finishing second, a shame Ben struggled a little bit in the beginning with the start and got stuck behind Valentino too long. Jorge raced with a big heart, it was amazing to see him mix it with the competition and lead briefly in the early laps. We can see it will be a tough season, but we can see that Jorge can cut it at the front. I’m very proud of him, it was a fantastic race. Massimo Meregalli Team Director A great start for my first MotoGP, Jorge proved he can deliver a fantastic race. We saw in warm up that the competition wasn’t so far away and he pushed really hard throughout to achieve his podium. Ben unfortunately had a not so good start and lost some time behind Barbera and Rossi. When he finally passed them and had a clear track his lap times were really good, scoring the fourth best lap of the race. We are satisfied and can now look to Jerez with a confident eye. More, from a press release issued by Bridgestone: Stoner dominates in Qatar with decisive first victory of 2011 Round 1: Qatar GP Race Losail International Circuit, Sunday 20 March 2011 Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Medium, Extra Hard. Rear: Medium, Hard Casey Stoner continued his strong pre-season form to take a clear victory today in Qatar for the Repsol Honda Team, using the harder option front and rear Bridgestone slicks to finish over three seconds ahead of the field and set the fastest lap of the race. The gap wasn’t always so large however, as teammate Dani Pedrosa fought Stoner hard for the first half of the 22 lap race, leading for much of it. Yamaha Factory rider and 2010 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo rode a determined race from third on the grid, leading on the first lap, to pass Pedrosa for second as the pair traded position in the closing laps. Every rider used the harder option front and rear slicks for their extra durability over race distance, and consistency was good with Stoner setting the race fastest time on lap 13. Both he and Lorenzo also lapped in the 1minute 55second bracket until the penultimate lap, and Andrea Dovizioso set his personal best on the final lap. Further down the order there were more hard-fought battles between Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli for fourth, and between Ben Spies and Valentino Rossi for sixth. Hirohide Hamashima Director, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development “I’d like to congratulate Casey for his victory here, and also Honda for their great pace that resulted in four of their bikes finishing in the top five. They have worked very hard over the winter and this has really showed today. Jorge also rode a great and determined race, demonstrating his fighting spirit to secure second place. The pace at the front was good and although we missed a new lap record by just 0.2seconds, tyre performance and consistency were good. Casey was able to lap in the 1m 55second bracket until the end and Andrea’s fastest time was on the last lap so this shows that both have a very good bike, rider and tyre package. Track conditions today were good, and as expected every rider chose the harder option front and rear slicks so we had no problems with graining. Finally, I’d also like to express my personal appreciation to Dorna, IRTA and the teams and riders for showing their support of Japan at this very difficult time with a minute of silence and photo message before the start of the race.” Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team Race Winner “It definitely couldn’t be any better, and it’s a similar start to when we won the World Championship. Everything with Honda so far has been amazing and we’ve made leaps and bounds over the pre-season, getting more comfortable on the bike and stronger and stronger. This was the same in the race and the bike was fantastic. This morning in warm-up we found the bike didn’t want to work too well on a full tank of fuel so in the race Dani was able to open a bit of a gap but we were in no hurry as we knew the bike works well on old tyres and we’d be competitive at the end of the race. It got better and better the more laps we did and easier to ride right until the last lap. Everything has gone so well and everyone is working well so I’m looking forward to those next races already.”