Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi claimed the first win of the 2015 MotoGP season in Qatar today, after an awesome battle with fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso.

The 36-year-old Movistar Yamaha rider, in his 20th season, came out on top against the resurgent Ducati GP15’s of Dovizioso (2nd +0.174s) and Andrea Iannone (3rd +2.250s), making it an all-Italian podium at this season opener.

Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) was in 4th (+2.707s), with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez (+7.036s) recovering to an incredible fifth position after running wide at turn 1 on the first lap, and having to work his way back through the field from last place.

Marquez’s Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa finished in 6th (+10.755s), with Cal Crutchlow (+12.384s) the leading satellite bike on his CWM LCR Honda in 7th. Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing +33.625s) finished as the top open class rider in 15th.

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