It was a perfect start from Movistar Yamaha at the 2017 MotoGP season which began in Qatar as Maverick Viñales secured a great win while teammate Valentino Rossi put in a stellar performance during the opening round at the Losail International Circuit, finishing in third place.
The Qatar race was interrupted by rain, delays and uncertainty which saw the number of laps being reduced to 20. Then out of the blue stormed Maverick Viñales, beating Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) in a thrilling desert duel. Valentino Rossi completed the podium in third after coming back from P10 on the grid.
As all sessions were cancelled the previous day, due to standing water on the track, thereby lessening the riders' time to practice and perfect their race settings, the level of adrenaline on the grid was even higher than usual. The race start then being delayed twice, due to sudden rain causing dangerous track conditions, added even more to the tension. Eventually, after two warm-up laps to give the riders a feel for the track, the race got under way 45 minutes later than scheduled.
Viñales secured his first MotoGP pole position thanks to a stunning lap in FP1, but it didn't help him at the start of the shortened 20-lap race. The young Spaniard gunned off the line and arrived at the first corner in second place, but had to sit up as 23 riders dashed through the first corner, losing him time and positions and pushing him back to fifth. He slowly picked up the pace as he got a feel for the conditions and, feeling the hot breath of his teammate down his neck, six laps into the race, he knew exactly when to put the hammer down.
As fellow Yamaha rider, Johann Zarco crashed out of the lead, the Spanish youngster saw the promise of a podium position dangling in front of him.
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