Qatar wrap-up (Spoiler)

Acidreign · 04-10-2006, 11:37 AM

DOHA (Reuters) - World champion Valentino Rossi roared back from his worst start to a MotoGP season with victory in Qatar on Saturday.

It was the 27-year-old Italian's 54th win in the top category, equalling the tally of Australian Mick Doohan with only compatriot Giacomo Agostini (68) ahead of him on the all-time victory list.

Italian Loris Capirossi, the winner of the opening race in Spain, finished third for Ducati to keep the lead in the championship with 41 points after two rounds to American Nicky Hayden's 36.

Rossi, arriving in Qatar with only two points after being knocked off his Yamaha at the first corner in Spain, took the lead on lap 10 and fought a lively battle with Honda's Hayden in the closing stages.

The American seized the lead four laps from the end on a gusty afternoon at the Losail desert circuit but his advantage was short-lived.

Rossi, winner in Qatar last year, powered back on the next lap to beat Hayden by nearly a second.

"The numbers are always important and to have won like (as many as) Mick (Doohan) is a great pleasure. But this victory is very much more important," said Rossi, who moved up to fourth in the championship with 27 points.

"We had difficult times in Jerez and even here it was tough going during the qualifying. But I'm happy that I was able to pull off this win."

"For me, this was the first race," added Rossi. "It was a difficult race, very funny and a great battle from the beginning...I was quite well in front but Nicky was able to come back and overtake me again.

"The championship is very long and I'm sure it will be a great battle this year."

Hayden, on the podium for the sixth race in a row, had mixed feelings after coming close to victory: "He (Rossi) had his head down in the last few laps and that's a tough challenge," he said. "I have six podiums in a row, which shows we are getting consistent, but now we need to step up one step."

Capirossi, a grand prix veteran, was delighted with third place ahead of Spanish team mate Sete Gibernau.

"This track is the worst one for us and we finished on the podium again," he said.

Honda's 20-year-old Australian rookie Casey Stoner failed in his bid to become the youngest race winner in the top category but led the first nine laps from pole position and impressed onlookers.

He finished fifth with Spaniard Dani Pedrosa sixth.

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo scored his second successive victory for Aprilia in the 250cc class after a dramatic last-lap duel with Italian Andrea Dovizioso. The lead changed hands twice, with Lorenzo pipping the Honda rider by a mere 0.077 seconds.

Spain's Alvaro Bautista, riding an Aprilia, won the 125cc race for his second victory in a row. KTM rider Mika Kallio of Finland was second, 6.765 behind.

((SPORT-MOTORCYCLING-QATAR; Editing by Alan Baldwin, London Sports Desk; Reuters Messaging; alan.baldwin.reuters.com@reuters.net; +44 207 542 7933))

IL0veFish · 04-10-2006, 12:02 PM

Was a good race overall.

sporky · 04-11-2006, 9:43 AM

Valentino is the man to chase this year, but the rest of the gang is doing great as well. Pedrosa is precise like a robot, Hayden is avoiding the grass so far and has good finishings in a row, Stoner

keeps reminding us what a great riders this island makes, and the Ducatis look ready for the win (not to mention the incredible Capirex)
so Rossi against HRC and Corse this year, my bet in Pedrosa
s..

nedro · 04-11-2006, 9:58 AM

Only two guys have podiumed all the races this year, and Pedrosa aint one of them.

sporky · 04-11-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nedro

Only two guys have podiumed all the races this year, and Pedrosa aint one of them.

nedro maybe I am lost in translation...but isnt Pedrosa who finished second in Spain Jerez

s..

SJ96F3 · 04-11-2006, 10:40 AM

Did anyone else see the clip towards the end of Pedrosa on the main straight where he couldn't keep the front end down? The front end would come up, he'd put it down then get on the thottle again and the front would come back up... a lot of bike for a little guy.

HondaGalToo · 04-11-2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporky

nedro maybe I am lost in translation...but isnt Pedrosa who finished second in Spain Jerez

s..

Yes, but he didn't podium at the second race in Quatar.

sporky · 04-11-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Yes, but he didn't podium at the second race in Quatar.

good point, thanks

but give some time to that little guy, maybe he needs a couple of kilos in order to be able to keep front wheel down

s..

tnarinen · 04-11-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nedro

Only two guys have podiumed all the races this year, and Pedrosa aint one of them.

Superb race from Nicky, let's hope he can keep this pace. As for Pedrosa, his race was lost with a bad start, but he managed to keep very nice pace, in fact his best lap was .2 better than Nicky's. Not making excuses here, Dani needs to learn to start and to overtake (he was stuck behind Melandri for a long time despite being faster), but I expect to see a good fight "who's the top Repsol this year". Another great year for us fans...