Andrea Dovizioso won the Qatar Grand prix, first round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship. Marc Marquez finished second while Cal Crutchlow was third.
Ladies and gentlemen, your first winner of 2019! ?@AndreaDovizioso! ?#QatarGP ?? pic.twitter.com/7uMY01iFBg
— MotoGP™ ?? (@MotoGP) March 10, 2019
? #MotoGP RACE
Confirmation of the results after a stunning season opener at Losail! ⏱️#QatarGP ?? pic.twitter.com/8z0jCavYuJ
— MotoGP™ ?? (@MotoGP) March 10, 2019
Marquez and Dovizioso engaged in another thrilling last-lap duel. Matc came into the race seeking to defend his crown and win a sixth title as fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo made his Repsol Honda debut alongside him. He started third on the grid behind Dovizioso and pole sitter Maverick Viñales as Lorenzo went down at Turn 2 during his final run in the Q1 session.
After his Saturday crashes on a slippery Losail track, Lorenzo said: “It is not only the wrist but back problem. Also the foot and fingers – I’m in pain everywhere.”
A huge pack of 10 riders formed up front early on Sunday as Dovizioso claimed the lead with Spaniard Alex Rins making his move before Marquez upped the ante. Marc passed his adversary at the penultimate Turn 4/5 double right-hander to lead, but Dovizioso retook the lead on Turn 1 at the start of the final lap.
The Spaniard tried his best to slip past for the win, however Italian Dovizioso held his nerve to fend him off in a straight drag race down the final straight.
Briton Cal Crutchlow dug in for third with Lorenzo back in 13th.
