Moto GP / Trent Burton / 11 April 2009 / Leave a comment

Trent Burton talks us through the first race of the Moto GP calendar where Casey Stoner looks to make it three in a row under floodlights...

The wait is over as the 2009 MotoGP season kicks off this weekend under the floodlights in Qatar.

Previously in MotoGP

Being round one, the only recent form we have is that from winter tests where it has been a case of Ducati's Casey Stoner and then the rest. In Jerez and Qatar he obliterated the timesheets and the opposition with laps that, despite what the field are saying, has to have everyone worried.

The Circuit: Losail

The track for the opening round is a fast, flowing, high-speed circuit that tends to suit the Ducati. The last two years, Stoner has won here pretty comfortably. The major issue for riders on Sunday will be, given it's an evening race, the track temperatures. With a lot of people still getting used to the new Bridgestone control tyres, the added problem of trying to get heat into them on a cold desert night is not something any of the newer Bridgestone runners will be looking forward to.

The Race

Like we can expect of many GP's to be this season, this is should be a battle of Stoner vs the reigning champion, Yamaha's Valentino Rossi. Stoner dominated Friday practice and it's rather hard to see past him for the win, hence there's real value in his current price of [1.85]. Rossi comes in as a second favourite at [3.45] and may be worth a look in-play. Stoner has yet to really give his newly repaired wrist a try out over a race distance and if he starts to struggle after a dozen or so laps, expect Rossi to be ready to pounce.

Beyond the big two, the other key guys I'll be looking out for are Colin Edwards and Jorge Lorenzo. Again this year the Yamaha looks to be the best overall package and these two have been quick here in testing and also in Friday's practice. Perhaps a little long for a shot at the race win at [60.0] and [10.5] respectively but there could be some value in a Top 3 result for either.

My dark horse of the weekend is easily rookie Ducati rider, Mika Kallio. On a bike that no-one beyond Stoner seems to be able to master, his pace has been a welcome surprise. He sat in seventh on Friday night and could be a good bet for a top six spot come Sunday, if he can qualify well.

The Last Word

The first race of the year is bang in Sunday night prime-time on the BBC and Eurosport. The bikes always look spectacular under lights so make sure you don't miss it. Stoner knows that, unless something bizarre happens over the next 48 hours, it's pretty much his race to lose. Rossi might need to delve into his bag of tricks and pull out something like he did at Laguna last year to stop him. But if anyone can, Valentino can. That said, my podium for Sunday has to be, in this order - Stoner, Rossi and Lorenzo.