Maverick Vinales claims victory in opening MotoGP meeting

Maverick Vińales was in devastating form as he took victory for Monster Enegery Yamaha in the MotoGP season opener in Qatar.
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It was a sensational victory for the 26-year-old Spaniard who qualified third and at the end of the opening lap was sixth behind the Ducati trio of pole-setter Pecco Bagnaia, Jack Miller and Johann Zarco.

Vińales closed the gap on the leaders passing Miller on lap eight then Yamaha team-mate Fabio Quartararo on lap 11 and began closing on the Ducati duo of Bagnaia and Zarco.

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Bagnaia, having his first race on the factory Lenovo Ducati, led until his rear tyre was destroyed and on lap 15 Vińales, who had disposed of Zarco three laps earlier, dived under the race leader at the left-hand Turn 9.

Maverick Vinales wins the opening MotoGP of 2021. Pic by FAlePhoto.Maverick Vinales wins the opening MotoGP of 2021. Pic by FAlePhoto.
Maverick Vinales wins the opening MotoGP of 2021. Pic by FAlePhoto.

The race was over as Vińales stretched his advantage to over a second by the chequered flag.

Reigning world champion, Suzuki’s Joan Mir, rode a fantastic race coming through from 10th on the grid to pass Zarco for second two corners from the flag, only to run wide at the final corner and lose out to the power of Zarco and Bagnaia’s Ducati’s in the run to the finish line.

Quartararo and Suzuki’s Alex Rins completed the top six.

It was Vińales’ ninth MotoGP career victory and he was delighted with his latest win saying. “I had a lot of wheelie at the start which is something we will have to work on but after that I found the potential.

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“I tried to be very smart and very calm and I found the right place to push.

“When I opened the gap I tried to manage the tyres and the power.

“It was a fantastic weekend.

“I said on Saturday we needed to play our cards right and we did.

“I felt good on the bike and overall we can feel happy and pleased.

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“We know we have to improve and right now Yamaha are working hard to bring something to the next race to start faster, because the Ducati is unbelievable off the line.”

Lincolnshire rider Sam Lowes made the perfect start to 2021 winning the 20 lap Moto2 race for Elf Marc VDS in Qatar.

Lowes qualified on pole and despite a crash in morning warm-up made a great start to his race, holding fourth behind fast starter Marco Bezzecchi into the first corner.

By the end of lap two the British star hit the front under-braking in to Turn One and never looked back, crossing the line with over two seconds to spare ahead of Australian Remy Gardner to claim a sensational victory with Bezzecchi securing the final rostrum position.

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Jake Dixon rode a heroic race, despite a right wrist injury, to finish 17th on the Petronas.

Thirty-year-old Lowes, who became the the first British rider since Barry Sheene way back in 1979 to lead a World Championship after the opening round, said. “I’ve worked for this race over the last few months.

“Obviously the crash in morning warm-up didn’t really go to plan.

“In the race, the conditions were an issue but I just tried to stay low and get out of the wind.

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“It was a difficult race not to make a mistake but my pace was strong and I’m so proud of myself and the team to start the year like this.

“It was a tough last 10 laps but I’m really happy and we get to do it all again next week.”

Red Bull KTM celebrated a one-two in the Moto3 class as Jaume Masia took the chequered flag ahead of 16-year-old rookie Pedro Acosta in a thrilling 18-lap race.

South African pole-setter Darryn Binder, making his debut for the Petronas Honda team, had a great race but just misjudged the conditions running wide into Turn 12 after getting caught in the windy conditions.

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There was heartbreak for Scottish Petronas Honda rider John McPhee, who was as high a second before he was skittled out of the race on lap four by Xavier Artigas along with Andrea Migno and Jeremy Alcoba.

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