Valentino Rossi wins thrilling opening race of MotoGP season in Qatar
Sunday 29 March 2015 23:16, UK
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi won a spectacular Grand Prix of Qatar as he withstood a furious onslaught from fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso over the final laps to take the opening race of the season.
A see-saw battle saw the lead change hands numerous times before the 36-year-old Rossi opened up a slight gap on the final two laps and held off the charging Dovizioso on his Ducati, who was looking for his first win in MotoGP.
Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, also on a Yamaha, was also in the hunt for victory and led midway through the race before Rossi, who began from eighth on the grid, charged to the front and went into battle with his compatriot Dovizioso.
World champion Marc Marquez never fully recovered from a dreadful start when he was forced off the track and left last, although the Spaniard did battle back to finish fifth.
It was later reported Marquez had set the fastest ever recorded speed in MotoGP on his charge up the grid, at one point reaching 217.66mph.
It was a stunning 109th victory for the iconic Rossi and his 197th podium as Italy swept the board with Andrea Iannone, also on a Ducati, coming home third.
It was a first time Italy took the top three places since the Japanese MotoGP in 2006.
"This was one of the best victories for me," said Rossi. "The bike was fantastic, I never gave up but it was a real fight with the Ducatis and the Hondas who were really strong.
"I'm so happy for me, for the team and for Yamaha. The second part of the race was really good and I'm very happy because we had difficulties in testing and practice but my experience helped today.
"This is a great, great victory but I had a good feeling this morning." he added.
Dovizioso, who was the 125cc world champion in 2004, was delighted with his performance despite missing out on a maiden win in the sport's most prestigious category.
"I'm happy to come back from what I've been through and it was a really tight race right until the final lap," he said.
"I had no more grip on my tyres so I couldn't attack but to come second in the first race of the season is really great." he added.
