MotoGP championship: Rossi wins opening race in Qatar

Valentino Rossi won the opening round of this seasons FIM MotoGP World Championship in Qatar. Stoner had won every race at the Losail circuit since he joined the Marlboro Ducati team in 2007 and he looked set to continue that record early on after he powered into the lead from pole position before surprisingly crashing out. The Australian lost the front end going into the first corner of lap six. Jorge Lorenzo of Spain was second ahead of Italys Andrea Dovizioso with Stoners team-mate Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies making up the top five.There are no British riders this season after James Toseland left to return to World Superbikes but Scott Redding was 23rd in the new Moto2 class and Bradley Smith was eighth in the 125cc race.