2016 MotoGP Qatar GP
Live text
Qatar MotoGP - Race
Live Text
Well, that brings to an end our live coverage of what was an absorbing race - fingers crossed for more of the same in the remaining 17 rounds of the season.
Thanks for joining us, and remember to stay with us at Motorsport.com as we deliver all the reaction and news from the paddock.
Thanks for joining us, and remember to stay with us at Motorsport.com as we deliver all the reaction and news from the paddock.
Here's the full report of an action-packed first round of the new season:
Qatar MotoGP: Lorenzo sees off Ducati threat to win season-opener
Qatar MotoGP: Lorenzo sees off Ducati threat to win season-opener
Jorge Lorenzo, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, Yamaha
Quote
Here's our winner Lorenzo: "To choose the right rear tyre was very important. I tried one lap with the hard one, but I didn't like it, and it was very risky to go for the soft one - which was risky because Rossi and Marquez chose the hard one.
"But at the end I could make fast laps, a 1m54.9s was impressive, and I'm very happy with this victory."
"But at the end I could make fast laps, a 1m54.9s was impressive, and I'm very happy with this victory."
Quote
Marquez on his P3 finish: "It was the only chance [to overtake on the final lap], I knew that even if I overtook at the last corner, he would overtake me before the line. But I'm happy because I got the maximum, recovering the distance to the Ducati along the straight was very difficult. 16 points are good for the championship and now we have some circuits that are better for us."
That's the Italian's best result since Argentina last year.
Casey Stoner is with the Ducati engineers down in parc ferme, who are there to congratulate Dovizioso on a hard-fought second place.
Worth noting - as he disembarked his bike, Lorenzo made a "zip your lip" gesture across his helmet.
Who's that to, one has to wonder? The fans? Or his newly re-signed teammate?
In the end, Lorenzo won by 2.019s - but unlike all his victories last year, it wasn't a lights-to-flag affair.
Finishing order:
Then it's Pedrosa - almost 12 seconds down, Vinales, and Pol Espargaro, who beat Smith to P7 by 0.023s.
Marquez launched an attack there but couldn't make it stick, and he was lucky to keep third from Rossi.
Chequered Flag
Lorenzo wins, Dovizioso holds on for second!
Marquez all over Dovizioso with a handful of corners left!
Can Marquez respond, or could Rossi snatch a podium place off his fierce rival?
Dovizioso snatches second back from Marquez at Turn 1!
Final lap...
Marquez looks to have second in the bag, but he's a full 1.8s down on Lorenzo.
Bradley Smith all over teammate Pol Espargaro for P7, but the cameras are probably correct to focus elsewhere.
Rossi now looking well placed to deny his compatriot Dovizioso a spot on the podium, but can he make the move in the last lap-and-a-half?
Stopwatch
Two laps to go, Lorenzo puts in a storming lap of 1m54.927s. Victory is surely his to lose now.
Rossi now up with the duo too, it's a proper three-way scrap now for 'best of the rest' behind Lorenzo.
That said, Dovizioso is still stalking Marquez very closely.
Three to go, and the answer this time is yes - looks like Marquez may have second in the bag now more or less, with Lorenzo now a full second clear.
The question is, can the Repsol Honda keep the Ducati at bay along the monstrously long start/finish straight?
Marquez grabs second from Dovizioso at last!
Today's race makes for some slightly unpleasant reading for Suzuki - both Vinales and Aleix Espargaro are lapping nowhere near as quick as they were in the early laps.
Lorenzo meanwhile keeping his cushion out front steady at just over 0.5s.
Marquez continues to keep Dovizioso very honest, but he's losing so much ground to the Ducati man coming out of the final corner, undoing his hard work each lap.
Pedrosa fifth, Vinales sixth, Pol Espargaro beats Bradley Smith by 0.023s at the line for P7.
Another personal best from Rossi there, but with six tenths between he and Marquez, the #46 might be staring at a fourth place finish here.
Pedrosa is seven seconds off Rossi - but he is two seconds up on Vinales.
And then, as we get done with that one update, Barbera gets passed by Smith.
Well, what do you know?
Remember, Dovi is the only man in the leading group on the front soft. Time will tell if he comes to regret that choice.
There should be a battle for eighth between Barbera, Smith and Redding.
There should be, but Barbera is actually keeping Smith at a reasonable distance - and keeping up with Pol Espargaro in P7.
There should be, but Barbera is actually keeping Smith at a reasonable distance - and keeping up with Pol Espargaro in P7.
Stopwatch
Now Lorenzo gets the fastest lap, a 1m55.109s. The world champion is turning up the heat.
Marquez is definitely looking the best placed of the lead bunch to make an overtake as we enter the final six laps.
Lorenzo with a personal best that time around, a fraction slower than Rossi's FL.
Eugene Laverty and Jack Miller going at it for P12. Points is points, they all count.
Lorenzo looking about as comfortable in the lead as he has done all race. He's just over 0.5s ahead now.
Stopwatch
Rossi punches in the quickest lap of the race so far, a 1m55.281s.
By: ,
Published:
Lap:
