Monday 30th March 2015

MotoGP Qatar:PH2

The MotoGP season kicks off in style!

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After a red Italian car taking a remarkable win in F1, could Ducati repeat the feat in MotoGP? With Dovi on pole, the 2015 season had already bettered the 2014 one for the guys from Bologna. However without the benefit of a super soft tyre and with Marc Marquez to contend with, it wasn't going to be easy...

Lorenzo took an early lead

With the top 20 riders split by around a second in practice, the Qatar race certainly promised some action and right from the start it was elbows out and Marquez off the track, demoted to the back of the field. At the front the two factory Ducatis were split by Lorenzo as three of the top five bikes were Ducatis! A lap later, with Lorenzo hitting the front, it was now a case of damage limitation for Marc and potential podiums for Ducati. Could Rossi or Pedrosa ruin the Italian party? But hang on, Marc was now into the top 10...

Mid-race and with Dovi leading the way, the two factory Ducatis and Lorenzo were now joined by Rossi who looked the faster of the Yamaha riders. But the big question remained - would the Ducatis last the distance or would their performance drop off in the latter laps like last season? They certainly had the pace on the straight!

With Iannone fading, in the last five laps it was up to Dovi to do the amazing. However Rossi was now past Lorenzo and looking the faster of the pair through the bends if not the straight. Could Rossi make it past and build up an advantage before the straight? With three to go he hit the lead, only to lose it on the straight and then gain it again a few corners later and pull the pin.

An entire podium without Marc Marquez!

A stunning bit of braking on the last lap kept Rossi in the lead but he needed to build up a decent gap so as not to be out dragged for the win. In the end he did it by metres, but you have to say a massive congratulations to Ducati. Pole position and two podium spots - awesome! What a cracking start to the 2015 season.

Moto2 and a rejuvenated Sam Lowes looked the man to beat in pre-season testing and, sure enough, the Brit was on pole for the season opener. A great start saw Sam make the best of his pole position while defending champion Rabat had a shocker. Practice suggested it would be a straight battle between Sam and Zarco and on lap two Zarco demoted Lowes to second spot. Then disaster struck and Lowes hit the deck after outbraking himself (a false neutral was to blame) and running a bit wide and onto a dirty part of track. In the end a gear linkage malfunction (plus nearly hitting the pit wall!) threw away a clear win for Zarco and Folger happily benefited from his nightmare.

Moto3 and after dominating practice, a poor qualifying (or lack of tow) saw Danny Kent down the order compared to fellow Brit John McPhee. After a bit of bumping and barging, both made their way into the top 10 and Kent soon led the race. In typical Moto3 style, this didn't mean much and by the last lap about 12 riders were all in with a shout of silverware. In the end Masbou took it by a whisker from Bastianini with Kent in third and McPhee fifth after a great race.

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Results:

MotoGP:
1. Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)
2. Dovizioso (Ducati Team)
3. Iannone (Ducati Team)

Moto2:
1. Folger (AGR Team)
2. Simeon (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2)
3. Luthi (Derendinger Racing Interwetten)

Moto3:
1. Masbou (SaxoPrint RTG)
2. Bastianini (Gresini Racing Team Moto3)
3. Kent (Leopard Racing)

Brit watch:

Cal Crutchlow (MotoGP) - 7
Bradley Smith (MotoGP) - 8
Scott Redding (MotoGP) - 13
Eugene Laverty (MotoGP) - 18
Sam Lowes (Moto2) - DNF
John McPhee (Moto3) - 5
Danny Kent (Moto3) - 3

 

	Rossi

[EGTE]

Way, way better than F1. I've never ridden a motor-bike (I'd be dead for sure) but am constantly amazed at how these guys ride them on the ragged edge.

(I watched F1 for 30 years, giving up last year when I found it it was a fuel-preservation competition between farting 1600s.....)

[Uncle John]

Agreed. MotoGP is great to watch.

I've lost my love for F1 although watched it yesterday and the deciding factor for Vettel to win was a bad call for a Hamilton pit during the safety car...mmmmmmmm......

The MotoGP race couldn't have been any different. Great elbow to elbow racing, 220 mph down the straight, Rossi amazing, Marquez from last to fifth, Ducati's resurgent.

Looks like it's gonna be a great season!!

[bubney72]

Stunning viewing.

[cheddar]

bubney72 said:

Stunning viewing.

Agreed and on a weekend where I watched F1, V8 Supercars and the CWC final Moto GP knocked that lot more sideways than Marquez backing it into turn 1.