BITTER AND SWEET FOR QATAR BRITS

The highs came from MotoGP debutant James Toseland, 125 cc Rookie Scott Redding and Kent-based Danny Webb. The lows from 125 cc Pole setter Bradley Smith and Ulsterman Eugene Laverty who crashed out of the 250 cc race.
 
Twenty seven year old Toseland made a sensational MotoGP debut finishing sixth riding the Tech Three Yamaha in the race won by World Champion Casey Stoner. Fifteen year old Scott Redding from Gloucester went one better to finish fifth in the 125 cc race won by Spaniard Sergio Gadea. Sixteen year old Danny Webb in just his second season was sixth in the 18 lap race that turned into a disaster for Smith and his Polaris World team. The 17 year old had led every practice and qualifying session but had big mechanical problems in the morning warm–up. Despite this he led the race before a broken steering damper wrecked his chances and he finally finished out of the points in 16th place.
 
Daylight or night time it makes little difference to Stoner who won the opening MotoGP round in exactly the same style that brought him the title last year. After a frantic start Stoner took his time to get to the front on the Marlboro Ducati but once he got there he was the only winner. Pole setter and MotoGP Rookie 20 year old double 250 cc World Champion Jorge Lorenzo tried to stay with him but had to settle for second place on the Fiat Yamaha with Dani Pedrosa a brave third despite suffering from an injured hand. Double Qatar winner Valentino Rossi led briefly but was finally relegated to fifth by another MotoGP debutant Italian Andre Dovizioso with Toseland a brilliant sixth.
 
"It was a fantastic debut and I could have only dreamed about his result," said a delighted Toseland.
" The team have been fantastic helping me to adjust to MotoGP and today’s result was down to their hard work. Yamaha have promised I will get the new engine at the third round in Estoril, Portugal and hopefully I will then be able to compete with those guys at the front."