2013 MotoGP Starts With Lorenzo's win at Qatar Grand Prix

MotoGP Season 2013 started with the Qatar Grand Prix, and the world champion Jorge Lorenzo has started the new MotoGP season with a victory here. Lorenzo started from pole position as he did last year, and finish the race in 42m39.802s, 5.9 seconds earlier than the closest competitor and Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi. Seven-time world champion Rossi returned to the Team Yamaha after two wretched years with Ducati. Rossi joined Ducati in 2011, after clashing Lorenzo. Rossi started with a mistake, but he fought back and ended up as a runner-up, but he had to hold off rookie rider Marc Marquez before claiming his best result since last September's San Marino GP.

Rossi was so excited after finishing second, he said, "It was great fun. Second place is the best I could do as Jorge was perfect. But it could have been a lot easier if I hadn't made a mistake at the start. But I wanted a podium really badly so I try, try, try! This has been my target since last November when I returned to Yamaha and I think we can all enjoy this season." Jorge Lorenzo was also happy with Rossi's performance, he said, "I knew it was going to complicated. I'm happy that Valentino came back in second place, it's good for Yamaha."

Marc Marquez finished on the third spot, it was his debut for Honda Repsol. He won last year's Moto2 title. The 20-year-old Marquez finished ahead of fellow Spaniard and teammate Dani Pedrosa, the championship runner-up last year, while Britain's Cal Crutchlow was fifth. "I was pretty nervous on the grid because it was my first MotoGP race," Marquez said. "I don't think I've ever been so nervous before. I found it hard to keep calm and I wasn't as focused as in Moto2. "However, I regained my concentration at the last moment. The start was important and we knew that we were taking off from the dirty part of the track. I didn't get off well, but I was able to attack on the opening laps and overtake many riders -- I think that was the key."

He became the first rookie since Lorenzo five years ago, also at Doha's Losail circuit, to stand on the podium after his debut in the elite level of motorcycling."When I rode behind Dani I learnt a lot, also later on with Valentino. Fighting against him is always nice to watch, but it's always tough at the same time. Valentino was a tough rival to overtake on the final laps. He beat us this time, but we hope to learn from him and from everyone who went faster than us." The next race of the 18-round competition is at the circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas in two weeks' time.

Final Standings after 22 laps: