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Fiat Yamaha rider sees ‘two riders a step above the rest’ after Qatar podium. Satisfied but not elated by a podium finish in Qatar, Jorge Lorenzo was analytical in his response to events on Monday evening.

Fiat Yamaha’s Spanish star was back on the rostrum at the scene of his first MotoGP top three finish, but felt that the gap between himself and racewinner Casey Stoner was more than the nine point difference suggested.

“It is a very good result, and the position is fine,” said Lorenzo. “However, the gap between myself and Stoner was too much. We have to work and work, because these problems need to be solved so that we get to Motegi with more of a chance.

“At the moment there are two riders who are a step above the rest,” he added, referring to Stoner and Fiat Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi.

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Having finished fifth at the Losail International Circuit last year Valentino Rossi was pleased to have started the 2009 season - and his MotoGP title defence - with an improved second place in Qatar.

World Champion Valentino Rossi was unable to prevent Casey Stoner running away with a third consecutive season-opening victory at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, but the brilliant Italian typically took the positives from his second place finish in the Arabian desert in Monday’s re-scheduled MotoGP race.

Rossi was amongst those who had stated after Sunday night’s rainfall that it was important to stay on at the floodlit Losail track to put on a show for the fans on Monday evening, and whilst he was unable to catch Stoner at the front of the race he did his level best at trying to hunt down the Ducati Marlboro poleman.

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After his horror crash in qualifying on Saturday at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar Nicky Hayden did well to come home twelfth on his Ducati race debut.

Nicky Hayden produced an impressive display in his first race for Ducati Marlboro coming from 16th on the grid at the Losail International Circuit in Monday’s re-scheduled MotoGP contest to finish in the points in 12th place, despite his back and chest injuries.

Controlling the awesome Desmosedici GP9 throughout the race cannot have been easy for Hayden after his big crash in qualifying on Saturday, given the badly bruised back and stitches in his chest which the American had to deal with.

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