What happens when you put the reigning champion on board the best machine in the MotoGP grid? Domination! Well at least that was the way it looked during testing when Stoner seemed untouchable.
The race however was much closer. Casey Stoner didn’t have an ideal qualifying session and began the race just off the front row. Come race day, the reigning champion had to battle his way into first place and had to work hard to maintain his position. By the time he crossed the finish line, he built a small breathing room of five seconds and thereby made history by winning the first ever night race in MotoGP history.
Trailing Stoner in second place was the Reigning 250cc world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Fiat Yamaha. The Spaniard had an impressive premier class debut. He started out on pole and finished strong on the podium despite his lack of experience driving 800cc machines.
His compatriot, and also a former 250cc world champion, Dani Pedrosa rounded up the final podium spot for Repsol Honda. Pedrosa’s drive to the podium however was much trickier than the first two riders. Pedrosa began his race on the third row of the grid and battled hard to keep up with the front-runners attempting to break away from the pack. The Spaniard remained focused however and came away with third position.
Another stunning debut for this year came from Andrea Dovizioso for JiR Team Scot. Dovisioso was Lorenzo’s main rival back in the 250cc class and this performance proved why as both riders highlighted impressive skill to adapt quickly to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. Although fourth may not seem as impressive as a podium finish, Dovizioso has proven his mettle with the way he claimed fourth spot. On the final lap of the race, he overtook no less than the 5-time MotoGP world Champion Valentino Rossi riding for Fiat Yamaha.
Rossi, on the other hand, did not have the ideal season opener. The most successful active rider on the grid was coming from his worst overall finish in his career with a third in the 2007 standings. The Italian no doubt wanted a strong finish to establish his championship bid. At first, the Italian driver seemed to be in contention for a podium finish. However, he faded towards the end of the race as the leading three drivers pulled away. To make matters worse, he conceded fourth to a late surging Dovizioso. Rossi therefore had to settle for fifth position.
Rossi finished just ahead of the Tech 3 Yamaha riders of James Toseland and Colin Edwards who crossed the line sixth and seventh respectively. Toseland was also making his MotoGP debut.
Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi finished in eighth while LCR Honda’s Randy de Puniet finished ninth. The 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden rounded up the top ten riding the other Repsol Honda.
