while second Movistar Yamaha
rider Valentino Rossi (the third
hard-rear user) was able to close
up again at the end, but not to
improve on fourth place.
The first race under the new
control-electronics regulations
had promised to be a wider
battle, with times in qualifying
very close. In the end, though,
VOL. 53 ISSUE 11 MARCH 22, 2016 P41
formance of the all-new control
Michelin tires, in the French
company's first MotoGP race
after seven years' absence. Fur-
ther good news for Michelin was
the race time, which was seven
seconds faster than last year.
It was also vindication of
Lorenzo's belated decision to
switch from Michelin's recom-
mended hard rear to the softer
option, as chosen by all but
three of the riders, includ-
ing Marquez and crasher Cal
Crutchlow.
In an exciting finish after a
rather processional midsection,
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso got
back ahead of Marquez to take
second with two laps to go,
JORGE LORENZO DID WHAT EVERYONE SAID HE WOULD DO AT QATAR, AND
QUALIFYING AND PULLING AWAY TO WIN IN CONVINCING STYLE.
Lights out and, err, lights
on, in the desert of
Qatar with Lorenzo (99)
leading into turn one.
S S
