Qatar MotoGP: Stoner takes first win on Honda

Repsol Honda new boy Casey Stoner topped off a perfect weekend at Qatar by taking victory in the first MotoGP race of 2011.

Team-mate Dani Pedrosa got the holeshot, only for Stoner to take the lead after a couple of laps.

Pedrosa got past Stoner again and looked to be too fast for the Aussie at one point, but Stoner managed to get back past his team-mate and gap the Spaniard.

Reigning World champion Jorge Lorenzo then had Pedrosa in his sights, and after swapping positions several times managed to hold his position to finish second, with Pedrosa in third.

Hondas completed the top five, with Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli in fourth and fifth respectively.

Ducati rider Valentino Rossi finished in seventh place, having battled with Ben Spies for most of the race, who finished sixth.

Brit Cal Crutchlow finished his first MotoGP race in 11th place after passing Hector Barbera on the final lap.

1.  Casey Stoner  AUS Repsol Honda Team  42m  38.569s 
2.  Jorge Lorenzo  ESP Yamaha Factory Racing  42m  42.009s 
3.  Dani Pedrosa  ESP Repsol Honda Team  42m  43.620s 
4.  Andrea Dovizioso  ITA Repsol Honda Team  42m  44.511s 
5.  Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini  42m  45.927s 
6.  Ben Spies  USA Yamaha Factory Racing  42m  49.037s 
7.  Valentino Rossi  ITA Ducati Marlboro Team  42m  55.000s 
8.  Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3  43m  4.862s 
9.  Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team  43m  5.985s 
10.  Hiroshi Aoyama  JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini  43m  7.489s 
11.  Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3  43m  13.108s 
12.  Hector Barbera  ESP Mapfre Aspar Team  43m  13.398s 
13.  Karel Abraham  CZE Cardion AB Motoracing  43m  16.526s