- 2017-03-27
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Qatar: Maverick Vinales Takes Victory on Yamaha Debut in Qatar GP
The Round 1 on MotoGP 2017, Qatar Grand Prix took place at Losail International Circuit on March 26, 2017. The race starting was delayed due to wet weather.
Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) claimed his first victory with Yamaha team. Maverick Vinales started from pole postion, dropped to fifth. But he moved up the position and battled with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) on top. Two laps remaining, he passed Andrea Dovizioso and received the checkers flag at the first place.
Andrea Dovizioso finished in 2nd place behind Maverick Vinales by 0.461s. Vinales' team-mate Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was 3rd with 39'1.927s.
Tech3 Yamaha's rookie Johann Zarco led the race on beginning of the race. Johann Zarco crashed out at Turn 2 on seven laps.
Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) crashed out on 11 laps, who could not won on the first race with Suzuki.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) faded to finish a lonely fourth, with Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa fifth after holding off Aleix Espargaro.
Maverick Vinales (P1):
“I’m so satisfied, the team did such a good job keeping the bike with the right setup, and I started well – I arrived second into the first corner but then Zarco appeared and I had to pick up the bike, otherwise we would have crashed. Then Marc and Dovi appeared and the track was quite slippery. I couldn’t make my own speed in the corner and I went off once in a fast corner. So it was hard in the early laps but then step by step I recovered my confidence. When I got to marc I thought that was the time to push. Then I arrived to Dovi and I didn’t know how to pass him. Thank you to the team because they did a great job!”
Andrea Dovizioso (P2):
“The gamble we took was right. We had good speed before the race but we couldn’t have finished the race with Maverick. Also, there was a lot of humidity and for sure the race was slower, so with the soft tyre if you don’t push really hard you’re able to save it. Everything went really well after the crash of Zarco because when I was leading, I was comfortable and I was able to save the tyre. It was the only way to finish the race with Maverick because he had better pace and a harder tyre. At some points it was ok, but at some points the difference was too much. My good point was the straight - but then I was just too far back to take him on the last lap!”
Valentino Rossi (P3):
“For sure, if I had to bet on me being on the podium today, I wouldn’t have bet! Maybe ten euros? But we never gave up, and tried the maximum. We tried three or four settings with the bike this morning in Warm Up and it was bad. In the daytime, I finished the tyre in three corners - so these conditions for me were better. We changed the bike again for the race and I felt good, I had a great start. I hope this race gives us enough information – so we can understand how to continue in this way. I'm happy because I saw Maverick for all the race - and that never happened in testing!”
GRAND PRIX OF QATAR MotoGP Race Results:- Maverick Vinales / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / 38'59.999s
- Andrea Dovizioso / Ducati Team / 39'0.460s
- Valentino Rossi / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / 39'1.927s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda Team / 39'6.744s
- Dani Pedrosa / Repsol Honda Team / 39'7.127s
- Aleix Espargaro / Factory Aprilia Gresini / 39'7.660s
- Scott Redding / Octo Pramac Racing / 39'9.781s
- Jack Miller / Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS / 39'14.485s
- Alex Rins / Team Suzuki Ecstar / 39'14.787s
- Jonas Folger / Monster Yamaha Tech 3 / 39'15.068s
- Jorge Lorenzo / Ducati Team / 39'20.515s
- Loris Baz / Reale Avintia Racing / 39'21.254s
- Hector Barbera / Reale Avintia Racing / 39'28.827s
- Karel Abraham / Aspar MotoGP Team / 39'29.122s
- Tito Rabat / Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS / 39'29.469s
- Pol Espargaro / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / 39'33.600s
- Bradley Smith / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / 39'39.703s
- Sam Lowes / Factory Aprilia Gresini / 39'47.130s
All photos copyright by MotoGP.- source : MotoGP
