Expectations were high for Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner at the 2010 MotoGP season opener in Qatar, considering the Australian was fastest in practice, qualified on the pole and won the last three meetings there.
But while in the lead with 17 laps to go, Stoner crashed out, giving the lead to the man who is always expected to win, Valentino Rossi. And when the nine-time world champion gets into a rhythm, he usually wins…which is exactly what he did at Losail International Circuit Sunday, taking the 104th win of his career.
But the Italian’s win wasn’t easy, his Fiat Yamaha getting chased and caught by the Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovizioso numerous times during the 22-lap race in the
Starting on the grid from second, Rossi took the holehshot, only to be passed by Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa. Rossi retook the lead at turn 4, but on lap 2 Pedrosa’s Honda overtook Rossi’s Yamaha M1.
On lap 3, Stoner passed Rossi for second place, and then took first from the early leader, Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa. With 18 to go, Rossi was back in second place. Meanwhile, a few positions back, Tech 3 Yamaha rider Ben Spies was running in seventh.
Stoner began pulling away quickly, but on lap 17 he crashed out on turn 4, a double-apex right turn, giving the lead to Rossi. With 15 laps to go, the running order had changed; the top five in order were Rossi, Ducati Marlboro rider Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, Rossi’s teammate Jorge Lorenzo and Pedrosa.
Dovizioso took second from Hayden with 14 to go, as Spies and Pedrosa battle for fifth. The ’09 World Superbike Champion Spies won the battle, keeping fifth and remaining unchallenged for the rest of the race. The MotoGP rookie had won both races in
Dovizioso took the lead from Rossi with six laps remaining, but Rossi quickly grabbed it back. As Rossi began pulling away, his teammate took third from Hayden and second from Dovizioso within a few turns.
Hayden would take third from Dovizioso on the final lap, but the Honda beat out the Ducati by 11 thousandths of a second at the line, giving the Repsol rider the last podium spot.
For complete MotoGP results and standings, click here.
