MotoGP champion Casey Stoner did not wait long to start taking the lead in this year championship as he took his first victory of the season in Quatar.Even though the Ducati Marlboro star started from fourth place of this first ever night world motorcycling race, he started moving up as soon as the eight lap as he overtook Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, and then the Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.Stoner completed the race with a lead of more than 5.3 seconds on second place and pole sitter Lorenzo. Pedrosa managed to finish third.In the same Pedrosa-Rossi pack were debutants Andrea Dovizioso on a JiR Team Scot Honda, and Superbike champion James Toseland on a Tech 3 Yamaha. Pos Rider Make Time 1. Casey Stoner Ducati 42:36.5872. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha + 5.3233. Daniel Pedrosa Honda + 10.6004. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 13.2885. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 13.3056. James Toseland Yamaha + 14.0407. Colin Edwards Yamaha + 15.1508. Loris Capirossi Suzuki + 32.5059. Randy de Puniet Honda + 33.00310. Nicky Hayden Honda + 38.35411. Marco Melandri Ducati + 44.28412. John Hopkins Kawasaki + 49.85713. Shinya Nakano Honda + 49.87114. Toni Elias Ducati + 58.53215. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati + 58.93016. Anthony West Kawasaki +1:05.64317. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki + 1 Lap Non classified Alex de Angelis Honda 16 Laps
Casey Stoner on the move