Rossi returns to form in Qatar

Added on Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Reigning MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi started his 2010 campaign in fine fashion, by grasping victory where he rivals faltered.

Starting from second on the grid, the Italian fired off the line with a fantastic start to ensure he stayed second behind fast starter Dani Pedrosa. He immediately made a move for the top spot, but despite his best efforts Pedrosa promptly shut the door.

Behind, Ben Spies also turned his Yamaha into a rocket off of the line, launching from an eleventh place start to lie eighth during the first lap. Seeing his rivals shoot away at the start, Nicky Hayden followed suit, flying from the third row of the grid to hold third place as the opening laps developed.

After a slow getaway, pole sitter Casey Stoner soon fought back to the battle at the front, taking over the control of the race from Pedrosa. However, this was short lived when the Ducati ace crashed out at turn four around the fifth lap at the worst possible time.

As the race progressed the fight at the front really began to hot up, as Andrea Dovizioso proved the strength of his straight line speed to muscle his way through the field. Dovizioso and Hayden were the focus of all attentions, as the duo spent the remainder of the race trading places. Before long, the distance Rossi had built up was eroded, as he became the front man to the Dovizioso-Hayden battle.

With the race distance suddenly ticking down, the chequered flag came into sight for Rossi, as he swept passed it a full second ahead of his nearest rivals. A surprise in second saw Rossi’s Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo scrape through to take the position, after a difficult race that initially saw him drop as low as sixth. Despite the best efforts of Hayden, who was eager to take a podium for Ducati after their many retirements from this opening adventure, Dovizioso claimed third just inches ahead of the American.

Spies recorded a fifth place finish after an enthralling scrap with Randy De Puniet, with the latter taking sixth ahead of Pedrosa. Colin Edwards scored an eighth place finish, while Loris Capirossi took ninth on his 300th Grand Prix start ahead of Hiroshi Aoyama.

After four retirements from the race, the remaining finishing positions were filled by Marco Simoncelli, Hector Barbera and Marco Melandri.

With the 2010 season now in full swing the second round is eagerly anticipated. Round two is in Japan in two weeks time.

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