The anticipation has been building - Rossi
back on a Yamaha
, Marc Marquez on fire, Cal Crutchlow with a point to prove, Dani Pedrosa on form and Jorge Lorenzo, as always, inch perfect and precise. What a MotoGP season 2013 promises to be...
Things couldn't have gone much better for Cal during the new style qualifying, sticking his Yamaha in second spot behind Jorge Lorenzo on pole was a big up yours to the bosses who wouldn't give him the upgrades the factory guys got. With Rossi down the grid after a poor qualifying (and behind Dovizioso riding the Ducati he traded for his Yamaha!) and Marquez chomping at the bit alongside Dani the first few laps were always going to be interesting.
Beaten into second but Rossi seems reborn
Out with the lights (well the starting ones, not the ones illuminating the circuit) and who said Rossi wasn't up for it? Everyone was expecting Marquez to go nuts on lap one, not Rossi! Cal must have been laughing his head off as Rossi ran wide, letting him through to attack Andrea Dovizioso and steal third place. Up front Lorenzo was busy trying to check out while Dani was getting plenty of unwanted attention from Cal.
A few laps in and Cal's lack of top speed saw him easily drafted past by Marquez, setting up the prospect of a bit of Spanish wrestling between Dani and Marc. Both tiny, both on super-fast Hondas and both with a point to prove, the two Spaniards must have thought they could easily break Cal's slow Yamaha, however they didn't reckon on a fired-up Brit. Or Rossi for that matter, who having broken clear of a pack of riders was busy closing the gap at a frightening rate.
A blistering mid-race pace saw Rossi catch the Cal/Marquez/Pedrosa battle for second spot, setting up stunning last few laps. You have to feel for Cal, who ran on at turn one when Rossi dived underneath. Rejoining in fifth Cal didn't lose a place, however he was now out of the battle for second. Could Rossi make it past the Hondas?
Out front Lorenzo was in charge; behind was drama
Four to go and Rossi was past Dani, could he catch Marquez? Yes he could, another stunning overtake and Rossi had done the impossible - but could he hold on for three more laps?
What can you say about the great man that hasn't already been said? Rossi on a bike that works and suddenly MotoGP is interesting again - well apart from at the very front. Lorenzo and Rossi gave Yamaha an unlikely one-two with Marquez a fantastic third. The 2013 season is shaping up to be a cracker...
Over in Moto2 and the combined bike/rider weight limit seems to be working in Brit Scott Redding's favour. The lanky lad looks like he should be a regular podium finisher this year as the winter's break has seen him lose none of his aggression or skill while the rule changes have made all the difference to his corner exit speed. So nearly a race win at Qatar, however second is still pretty bloody good.
The Moto3 race was another barnstormer, as we have come to expect from the new axe-murderer class. Louis Salom eventually emerged victorious from the five-bike scrap with Maverick Vinales and company hot on his heels.