Losail Circuit Sports Club Vice-President and GM Khalid al-Remaihi applauds Valentino Rossi, while at right, winner Andrea Dovizioso (C) second-placed Marc Marquez (L) and Rossi celebrate on the podium.
Reigning champion Marc Marquez had singled out Andrea Dovizioso as the most dangerous opponent, heading into the opening race of the MotoGP season. The Ducati rider had started from the fifth position to Marquez’s second.
But it hardly mattered for the Italian when the lights went out as he edged out Marquez’s Honda by just 0.027seconds to clinch the Grand Prix of Qatar last night.
The Losail International Circuit is known to produce close races and once again the crowd were on their feet as Dovizioso and Marquez jostled for victory in the final corner.
In the end, it was Ducati’s superior straight speed and Dovizioso’s tyre management that gave the Italian his ninth MotoGP career victory and first in Qatar.
The crowd favourite Valentino Rossi came third on his Yamaha as the nine-time world champion proved he still has it in him – three days after signing a new contract to race until the end of 2020 season, when he will be 41!
It was a forgettable night for Tech 3 Yamaha’s Johann Zarco, who followed his record-breaking lap in the qualifying, by finishing a disappointing eighth. Frenchman Zarco knew he had a real fight on his hand, despite starting from the front, with factory riders holding the advantage over him with superior race pace.
And he his did best to thwart the danger of Marquez and Dovizioso, before being pushed to third.
Dovizioso and Marquez finally made their moves during lap 18 of 22, both passing Zarco at Turn 1 and quickly leaving the Frenchman behind to engage in their own private duel for victory. Rossi, too, passed Zarco on the same lap as Dovizioso and Marquez but couldn’t keep up the pace in the closing laps.
It was an enthralling final five laps though as the Dovizioso and Marquez continued their battles from last year in Austria and Japan. Both times Dovizioso had managed to beat Marquez on the last lap. And he did it again on the night, but not without some drama.
With Marquez attempting a pass at the final corner on the last lap, Dovizioso managed to edge back ahead exiting the turn, getting superior traction and out-dragging Marquez to the finish line by a tiny margin of 0.027secs.
Dovizioso said the pressure was on him going into the race, admitting there was an ‘obligation’ for him to win in Qatar. “I did three second positions (in previous years in Qatar), so before I came here it was like an obligation to win here,” he said.
“The bike worked very well so it was easier than in the past. Our front tyre worked very well, our bike and my riding style worked really good for the tyre. But the rear was very soft, softer than the softest last year. That’s why we didn’t push for three-quarters of the race; that’s why when (Johann) Zarco was in front, nobody pushed,” he added.
Marquez said the second-place finish was like a victory for him and Honda, having in the past struggled at the Losail circuit. And Dovizioso couldn’t agree more with the Spaniard, admitting Marquez had a better bike than last year.
“That is the bad part of the race, because it confirms Honda has improved the bike and Marc is there to give a good fight,” Dovizioso said.
For Marquez, it was the best he could do and was clearly outdone by Ducati’s straight speed. But it also showed the 22-year-old Spaniard will one of the strong favourites for the world title.
“I tried to push my 100 percent. I knew before the race here, maybe it is one of the most difficult tracks for me. But even then I tried and when Dovi was pushing, I went to the limit,” Marquez said.
“It was close in the last corner and I thought Dovi would overtake me before the finish line with the slipstream, which he did. But I am very happy because podium here was the main target. I have finished second and we lost only five points - really happy,” he added.
Rossi, who won one race in 2017 and finished fifth overall despite breaking his leg at the end of August, had a good race compared to his Spanish teammate Maverick Vinales. Last year’s winner here in Qatar, Vinales finished sixth this time.
Rossi was happy with the podium and said the Yamaha was in good shape this year but he added they needed to do more to beat Ducati and Honda.
“I expect more compared to last year, because with this year’s bike I feel good,” said Rossi, who also finished third in Qatar in 2017. “I know that Marquez and Dovizioso are faster at the moment, they have a little bit more, so when Dovi went in front I tried to give 120 percent to stay with them. Thanks to my team, thanks to Yamaha and we try to continue this It’s a very good way to start the season.”
Meanwhile, Cal Crutchlow was fourth on the LCR Honda, ahead of Danilo Petrucci’s Pramac Ducati.
There was heartbreak for Suzuki as Alex Rins, who was in for a podium finish in the first half of the race but crashed out at turn two on lap 13. His teammate Andrea Iannone picked up points for the Japanese manufacturer in ninth place, while Jack Miller rounded out the top ten on his Pramac Ducati debut.
Results
MotoGP
1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 42:34.654, 2. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) at 0.027, 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.797, 4. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/LCR Honda) 2.881, 5. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 3.821, 6. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 3.888, 7. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 4.621, 8. Johann Zarco (FRA/Yamaha Tech3) 7.112, 9. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Suzuki) 12.957, 10. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati Pramac) 14.594
Moto2
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Kalex) 40:19.802, 2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA/Kalex) at 0.12, 3. Alex Marquez (ESP/Kalex) 5.625
Moto3
1. Jorge Martin (ESP/Honda) 38:18.207, 2. Aron Canet (ESP/Honda) at 0.023, 3. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA/Honda) 6.746
