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 42:36.587
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha + 5.323
3. Daniel Pedrosa Honda + 10.600
4. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 13.288
5. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 13.305
6. James Toseland Yamaha + 14.040
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha + 15.150
8. Loris Capirossi Suzuki + 32.505
9. Randy de Puniet Honda + 33.003
10. Nicky Hayden Honda + 38.354
11. Marco Melandri Ducati + 44.284
12. John Hopkins Kawasaki + 49.857
13. Shinya Nakano Honda + 49.871
14. Toni Elias Ducati + 58.532
15. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati + 58.930
16. Anthony West Kawasaki +1:05.643
17. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki + 1 Lap
Non classified
Alex de Angelis Honda 16 Laps
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 42:36.587
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha + 5.323
3. Daniel Pedrosa Honda + 10.600
4. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 13.288
5. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 13.305
6. James Toseland Yamaha + 14.040
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha + 15.150
8. Loris Capirossi Suzuki + 32.505
9. Randy de Puniet Honda + 33.003
10. Nicky Hayden Honda + 38.354
11. Marco Melandri Ducati + 44.284
12. John Hopkins Kawasaki + 49.857
13. Shinya Nakano Honda + 49.871
14. Toni Elias Ducati + 58.532
15. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati + 58.930
16. Anthony West Kawasaki +1:05.643
17. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki + 1 Lap
Non classified
Alex de Angelis Honda 16 Laps