DOHA, 11 March 2007 — Australian Casey Stoner upstaged former world champion Valentino Rossi to take the first win of his MotoGP career in the Qatar season-opener yesterday.
The 21-year-old Ducati rider, starting alongside pole-setter Rossi, seized the lead at the end of the first lap and smashed the race lap record on his way to becoming the first winner on an 800cc machine.
Despite the Italian twice going past, Stoner used the Ducati’s impressive power advantage at the Losail circuit to take the checkered flag with a 2.8 second advantage.
Rossi, winner in Qatar for the past two years and starting on pole position on a much-improved Yamaha, said he had done the best he could.
Honda’s Spanish title contender Dani Pedrosa won a close battle for third place with Suzuki’s American John Hopkins, who injured his hand in pre-season testing and ended the race grimacing with pain after a brave ride.
