Valentino Rossi won the season-opening race in Qatar after leader Casey Stoner crashed during lap six. After the race, Stoner admitted that a “silly mistake” was the cause of his crash. The second place on the podium was occupied by Jorge Lorenzo, while third went to Andrea Dovizioso, who was milliseconds faster than Nicky Hayden right before the finish line. Read the race results after the jump.

 

2010 Qatar MotoGP race results:

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 42m 50.099s
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 42m 51.121s
3. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 42m 51.964s
4. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 42m 51.975s
5. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 42m 54.002s
6. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 42m 59.421s
7. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 43m 6.607s
8. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 43m 9.966s
9. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 43m 10.992s
10. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 43m 11.199s
11. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 43m 21.737s
12. Hector Barbera SPA Paginas Amarillas Aspar 43m 22.672s
13. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 43m 30.879s

DNF:
Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing
Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team
Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing