Jorge Lorenzo won the opening race of the new MotoGP season in Qatar after reigning champion Casey Stoner suffered problems with his forearm in the latter part of the race.
Lorenzo started from pole position on his new 1,000 cc Yamaha but Stoner took the lead on lap three and looked set for the win. However, when Stoner began to suffer from ‘pump arm’ (when the huge braking forces required to stop the bike cause muscle spasms in a rider’s forearm) with five laps to go, both Lorenzo and Pedrosa managed to get past.
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda
3. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda
4. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Tech 3 Yamaha
6. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati
7. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Gresini Honda
8. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda
9. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Ducati
10. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati