The MotoGP season kicked off under lights with a thriller in Qatar this morning, with Spanish riders finishing 1-2.

Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo won the Grand Prix of Qatar, qualifying fastest and then leading the way at the start before dropping back into a battle for second with Dani Pedrosa and, finally, launching an attack with just a few laps remaining to overtake Australian defending champion Casey Stoner and win the first MotoGP of the season.

Honda pair Pedrosa and Stoner settled for second and third respectively.

LEADING RESULTS:

1. Jorge LORENZO, SPA, Yamaha Factory Racing, Yamaha, 25 points;

2. Dani PEDROSA, SPA, Repsol Honda Team, Honda, 20;

3. Casey STONER, AUS, Repsol Honda Team, Honda, 16;

4. Cal CRUTCHLOW, GBR, Monster Yamaha Tech 3, Yamaha, 13;

5. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, ITA, Monster Yamaha Tech 3, Yamaha, 11;

6. Nicky HAYDEN, USA, Ducati Team, Ducati, 10;

7. Alvaro BAUTISTA, SPA, San Carlo Honda Gresini, Honda, 9;

8. Stefan BRADL, GER, LCR Honda MotoGP, Honda, 8;

9. Hector BARBERA, SPA, Pramac Racing Team, Ducati, 7;

10. Valentino ROSSI, ITA, Ducati Team, Ducati, 6;

11. Ben SPIES, USA, Yamaha Factory Racing, Yamaha, 5;

12. Colin EDWARDS, USA, NGM Mobile Forward Racing, Suter, 4;

13. Randy DE PUNIET, FRA, Power Electronics Aspar, ART, 3;

14. Yonny HERNANDEZ, COL, Avintia Blusens, BQR-FTR, 2;

15. Aleix ESPARGARO, SPA, Power Electronics Aspar, ART, 1.

Photo courtesy Yamaha