MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 1 / MARCH 26, 2017
LOSAIL INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT / DOHA, QATAR
P50
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
B
y the skin of its teeth! The
first MotoGP race of the
year was so fraught that
it almost didn't happen. When
it did get going, more than 40
minutes late, and still under the
threat of sudden termination, it
was a marvel. And the rain that
caused all the trouble held off,
until just a few minutes after the
race finished, when it poured
down once again.
With three different leaders
and a full frontal battle right until
the final lap, it was something of
a relief when the rider who had
dominated testing and practice
came good. But Maverick Vina-
les took his first win for Movistar
Yamaha with a combination of
patience and aggression.
Maverick Vinales
proved his pre-
season form was
not a flash in the
pan after a stellar
ride in his first race
in Yamaha colors.
Welcome back,
MotoGP!
MAVERICK
BY
He promised speed,
he delivered! Maverick
Vinales' victory is a
worrying sign of sheer
race pace for his rivals.
