Lorenzo wins season-opening Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix

Lorenzo wins season-opening Qatar MotoGP Grand PrixJorge Lorenzo of Yamaha has won this weekend’s Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix, which is the first race in the season, and has taken the lead early over fiercely competitive rivals.

Lorenzo managed the win by overtaking world champion Casey Stoner at a time when there were just three laps to go in the race. Honda’s Stoner, who comes from Australia’s, was also overtaken by his teammate Dani Pedrosa in the closing stages. Stoner has won the night race four times in the last five years but managed a only third position.

Stoner had taken the lead in most of the race after he overtook Pedrosa int eh second lap and Lorenzo n the third lap of the Losail circuit. He suffered a muscular contraction in his right arm, which made it harder for him to grip the throttle and steer.

"After four laps I started to get really bad arm pump. By the end of the race I couldn't grip any more, couldn't use the brakes. "In general we're happy," said Stoner, who was the winner of ten races in the previous season.

UK’s Cal Crutchlow was fourth on a Yamaha Tech3.