Jorge Lorenzo starts off his 2016 MotoGP edition on a victorious note

MotoGP roared back to life this weekend at Black and Gold desert Circuit of Qatar. The reigning MotoGP champion, Jorge Lorenzo started off his title defence on a victorious note at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix. He passed Ducati’s three-time champion Andrea Dovizioso in the ninth lap to get a lead. While Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi took the third and fourth spot respectively.

 After the end of the race, the Italian MotoGP legend, Valentino Rossi kissed his tyre admitting his choice of Michelin's soft rear tyre could have been a gamble. Rossi said, “At the end it was a great race, the pace was very fast from the beginning to the end, but unfortunately I stayed behind and I didn’t have enough speed to try and attack. I was there but I was never in the real fight, I was always a little bit behind. We need a faster pace and may be the tyre choice can make some difference, but we don’t know.”

 The 37-year-old former MotoGP champion added, “May be with the soft tyre I could go faster or I could go slower. We arrived behind and unfortunately didn’t get on the podium, but it was a good race anyway, with a good start. We are there, we have to work, but for sure we are competitive. Last year in Argentina was a great race, one of the best with a great pace and I was coming from behind, but this year it will be a different story, especially with the tyres. We need to understand our potential this year”

Commenting on same, his teammate Lorenzo said, “To choose the right tyre was very important. I tried hard in the warm-up lap but I didn’t get a good feeling. It was very risky to ride on a soft compound against our main rivals, Marquez and Rossi, who instead choose a hard compound. Fortunately, I could make good time in the last few laps.. Very happy with the victory, always good to start on the podium but if possible victory is best”.

All the racers are now getting ready to race in Argentina with a growing level of confidence. Thanks to the Rossi’s fourth and the Lorenzo’s first position, Movistar Yamaha is leading the MotoGP table with 38 points.