MotoReview

The Qatar MotoGP was not to be a #46 whitewash though, with the Australian rookie Casey Stoner getting a great start and barrelling into turn one in a clear first place. After the first few corners Nicky Hayden settled into second on his Repsol Honda RCV, followed by the Italian GP winner Loris Capirossi. The Kawasaki of Shinya Nakano that had struggled all weekend somehow made it into fourth place and Sete Gibernau was fifth on the second Ducati. Rossi had his work cut out in sixth.

Just half a lap into the race Randy de Puniet's race was over, after losing rear grip just after overtaking the D'antin Ducati of Alex Hofmann. The French rider had already been struggling with the wrist injury he sustained during the pre-race warmup session in Jerez two weeks ago which had forced him to retire after just 8 laps.

Following an average start Rossi soon began his charge for the frontrunners and was up to third place by lap four.

A lap later it was clear that Suzuki still were not rid of the ‘curse of Qatar' which had already claimed one of their bikes in almost every session of the weekend. John Hopkins was up to an impressive fourth position when his GSV-R suffered yet another technical problem (this time a ‘cooling system fault') which signalled the end of his race.