Dovizioso pips Marquez to win MotoGP opener in Qatar

DOHA: Italian Andrea Dovizioso won the Qatar Grand Prix for Ducati by the blink of an eye as MotoGP served up a season-opening thriller at the floodlit Losail circuit.

Honda’s reigning world champion Marc Marquez finished a mere 0.027 seconds behind the man who took last season’s title battle down to the wire.

Valentino Rossi, the Italian great starting his 23rd Grand Prix season at the age of 39 and with a new twoyear Yamaha contract freshly signed, joined them on the podium after the night-time race.

Dovizioso had started eighth but seized the lead from Frenchman Johann Zarco, who had set the pace from pole position, with five laps to go and pulled away with Marquez in close pursuit.

The Spaniard made his move at the last corner of the last lap but failed to make it stick, with Dovizioso using the Ducati’s power to take his ninth MotoGP win.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow was fourth for LCR Honda, the best non-factory rider, with Zarco dropping to eighth as his tyres lost performance.

“It was a perfect race, perfect weekend,” said Dovizioso of his first win in Qatar after three times finishing runner-up.

“We did a really bad start but I was calm.

“I recovered very slowly and saved a lot the tyres and was able to push at the end.

“As always with Marc, the last lap is very difficult but I was able to beat him again.”

Marquez, winner of four of the last five MotoGP titles, did all he could at a track he sees as one of his most difficult.

“When Dovi was pushing I was losing the front, losing the rear but anyway I arrived close in the last corner. I tried,” said the Spaniard.

“Again he beat me, but I’m very happy. Here a podium was the main target.” — Reuters