The MotoGP Monster Energy Grand Prix de France at Le Mans this past weekend produced a couple of surprises both on and off the track. While Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) dominated the race from the outset, we saw Valentino Rossi (Ducati) sneak into second at the last moment for his first podium finish of the season. Casey Stoner (Honda), who finished third and lost his points lead to Lorenzo, announced at the Le Mans press conference that he will be retiring after this season.

Round three of MotoGP was about as straight forward as any race can get. With the top three riders sorting themselves out early on, the race at Estoril, Portugal primarily consisted of these riders holding their ground.

MotoGP action will start up again this coming Friday in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, a city well-known for its love of racing. Located in a slight valley in the south of Spain, Jerez can be counted on to provide perfect weather for both the racers and the enthusiastic spectators at the Grand Prix of Spain.

The winner of the Qatar Grand Prix isn't always the winner of the MotoGP world championship, but that's what happened in 2011. What about 2012? As the opening event in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, the Qatar Grand Prix might tell us some things about how the MotoGP racing season will go.

If that's the case, then 2012 will be an exciting year and we'll need to keep an eye on Jorge Lorenzo.

Ducati will be unveiling their 2012 MotoGP GP12 Desmosedici world championship challenger live to the world online. The Ducati MotoGP riders, Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi, will be challenging the rest of the world on a brand-new Ducati.

Let's hope the the 2012 racing season goes better for Ducati than the 2011 did. The 2011 season is definitely one that the world-renowned and respected Italian motorcycle manufacturer would like to forget.