MAVERICK’S MOVI MAGIC
MAVERICK VINALES kept his cool in a thriller to win the first race of the new MotoGP season.
It was victory first time out for the Spaniard in Movistar Yamaha colours as he saw off Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso in Qatar with Valentino Rossi fighting through the pack to finish third.
Vinales made his decisive move after 13 laps and said: “That was great – the track was difficult and I was taking a bit of care.
“But the race was coming back to me little by little and we were doing a great job. I am so happy.”
After Saturday’s qualifying was washed out the rain returned just before yesterday’s scheduled start.
But after a brief delay the track quickly dried and the race was on.
Rookie Johann Zarco, enjoying his debut, showed the speed that took him to the Moto2 crown last year, stunning his rivals as he charged into the lead on his Tech3 Yamaha. Reigning champion Marc Marquez was soon challenging him in a furious duel but Andrea Iannone, making his racing debut for Suzuki, was up for the fight.
Dovizioso then joined the fun as he slip-streamed them on the long straight.
Zarco’s race ended when he lost the front and slid off with Dovizioso taking over out front from Marquez and Iannone.
Vinales finally found a way to the front with six laps to go, sparking a thrilling three-way shoot-out with Dovizioso and Rossi. Dovizioso found something extra, going back in front before Vinales reeled him back, taking charge in the closing stages to claim his second top-flight victory. Scott Redding was the top Brit, seventh on the Pramac Ducati, while Bradley Smith was 17th, just ahead of Sam Lowes, making his series debut on the Gresini Aprilia. But it was a wretched race for Cal Crutchlow. He crashed early on but wrestled his LCR Honda back on course, only to tip off again shortly afterwards. FLYING Scot John McPhee came within 0.135secs of a dream winning start with the new Dorna-backed British Talent Honda team, but Spain’s Joan Mir snatched the Moto3 victory from him late on.