MotoGP: Stoner on pole in Qatar

If you frequent these pages you would be more than acquainted with my appreciation for MotoGP. I am, however, still groping in the far reaches of my barren mind, trying to ascertain how I allowed MotoGP’s season opener to ride away from my radar.

There is a circuit, it is 3.3 miles in length, 12 m wide, it has 6 left and 10 right corners, its longest straight is 1 km long and it was built in 2004. This is not a game show, so I will tell you that this circuit, the Losail International circuit, will be the site of the first battle in the war – the 2011 MotoGP season.

Lorenzo

The rider line up for some teams has changed. The most noteworthy of these changes include multiple World Champion, Valentino Rossi, leaving Yamaha Factory Team for Ducati Team, Ben Spies joining defending World Champion Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha and Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso all at Repsol Honda.

Jorge Lorenzo in 2010, aided by Rossi’s absence at a few rounds, had his way and belittled his opponents with his proficiency aboard his Yamaha machine. A few riders got a sip of the victor’s champagne but that was after Jorge had his fill.

A new season gives birth to new expectations. Jorge Lorenzo is the defending champion, but some still say he won simply because Rossi was out for several rounds. Ben Spies was the revelation last season, Stoner needs to silence his detractors, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso need to justify Honda’s investment in them and others on the grid simply want to make a name for themselves. Valentino ‘the Doctor’ Rossi lost his title last season and is now ferociously eager to commence his roaring rampage of revenge.

The Commercial Bank of Qatar Grand Prix today, gives them all, blank pages on which they will write the first chapter in the history of the 2011 MotoGP season. Casey Stoner clinched pole for today’s grand prix. The intrigue is underway!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer