Alex

Having started form eighth on the grid, Valentino Rossi got involved in an early fight with the mid pack, including riders Crutchlow and Stefan Bradl, eventually bettering the German rider to move up and hold on to sixth place to the finish line. Rossi had to contend with a vibration from his front brakes during the race and had battled all weekend to find the best setup for the demanding circuit. The result places him in fourth place in the overall standings with 30 points, 3 behind Dani Pedrosa in third. Jorge Lorenzo, 3rd “Yesterday we were so far from Marc and Dani but this morning in the warm up we found something. The hairpin corners we normally take in first gear we made in second so it improved a lot the feeling and the acceleration, but it was not enough. Just a little bit more, maybe two tenths quicker and I could have fought with Dani and Marc. Today third position was the best we could do. I want to congratulate Cal who didn't give up until the end and also Marc, he’s the youngest rider in history to win a Grand Prix; he is a phenomenon. It’s an important day for me; I never thought to get this unbelievable number of podiums so today is a magic day. Time flies very quickly, it seems like it was just yesterday that I got my first victory, which was my first podium in Brazil in 2003 ten years ago and now today my 100th.” Valentino Rossi, 6th “This is a difficult track for us. We expected to do better, but I had a lot of problems in the race because I had a problem with the brakes. I had a vibration in braking because I lost one part of a disc so this didn't help. We knew that we had to defend here; we know that when we cannot attack we need to try and arrive in the top five but today it was sixth. The balance of the first two races is positive and we arrive in Jerez optimistic for the next few races as the tracks are better for us.” Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager “This was our target, to be on the podium. To be honest to be just three seconds behind the lead is very nice. When you are ten seconds behind and you finish third you are quite happy but if it’s just three seconds you think you might have been able to get a bit more. Apart from that we must be very pleased with the result, to be on the podium was our target and that will continue to be our target for the next couple of races. We struggled a lot here and everyone could see our competitors were strong; we had it the other way round in Qatar. Let’s hope at the end of the season that the balance is in our favour.” Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director “We knew since the beginning that this race was going to be really tough for us but I think the team has worked really well and we could manage it in the best way. To finish third, with only three second gap to the leader is for me really good. Jorge did a really intelligent race without a lot of risk. Now we are going back to Europe where the circuits are more suitable to our M1. Vale’s team worked really hard to try and fit the bike to his riding style; they improved the bike through each practice. Unfortunately we made another step from the warm up to the race that didn't work as we expected. He also had a vibration on the front from his brakes. I think we are leaving Austin in a really good shape and we are really looking forward to the Jerez race.”

The 2011 MX1 vice-champion had a pin inserted in the foot to stabilise the break on Easter Monday in Belgium, the day of the Grand Prix of the Netherlands. Frossard has since been recuperating and felt comfortable enough to throw his leg over the works YZ450FM to ride on Wednesday with a special protective plate inserted in his boot. After some rigorous laps ‘183’ gave his team the thumbs-up. “The operation went well and it wasn’t long before I started to feel good with my foot,” he said. “I was hopeful of going to Italy and was keen to try the bike with the special modification I have in my boot. From the time around the track I knew I would be able to ride at the weekend. I cannot say what my goal will be but I want to get my season moving in the right direction.” Ferris has been riding his YZ250F this week and will use proceedings at Arco di Trento to reignite his assault on the MX2-GP category after a sensation podium at Losail in Qatar for the championship opener. Source www.yamaha-racing.com

In the Supersport class it was Mar-Train Yamaha’s new signing Stuart Easton making the title challenge clear, The YZF-R6 rider taking the chequered flag in the first race, just 0.255 seconds ahead of closest rival Billy McConnell. Easton’s teammate Glenn Irwin was only six seconds behind him over the line in seventh place. The win from Easton places him fourth in the standings ahead of Thruxton in a week’s time, despite a DNF in yesterday’s second Supersport race. James Ellison “It was great to bounce back in the second one from the schoolboy error in the first race as it was really disappointing. I had a bit of a moment at Graham Hill Bend and I thought that was going to be enough for Shakey to try and make a move but we were lucky and held onto it. I really enjoyed being out the front with the other guys and full credit to the Milwaukee Yamaha team as we have had an impressive start to the season.” Stuart Easton “I expected Ben Wilson to be aggressive but I got past him though was always expecting him to lunge through at me, then I heard a Triumph up behind me. I was doing my best to stay consistent and it is so good to win first time back." Source www.yamaha-racing.com.

Valentino Rossi proved he still hasn’t lost his magic in tonight’s race, thrilling fans with a sensational run to claim second on the podium, completing a Yamaha Factory Racing one-two finish with his teammate Lorenzo. Rossi made sure his first race back with Yamaha was one to be remembered, having started from seventh on the grid he quickly moved up to fourth only to mistime a pass on Andrea Dovizioso and drop back to seventh again. By lap eight he was charging back up the field, closing down a gap of over three seconds to catch the podium battle and join the fight for Qatar honours. The nine-time World Champion dispatched fellow Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow and Honda rival Dani Pedrosa before entering into a fantastic duel with MotoGP rookie Marc Marquez in the final laps for second place. Rossi emerged from the battle the victor, crossing the line in second position just under six seconds behind Lorenzo to take 20 Championship points. Jorge Lorenzo 1st “Half an hour before the race I felt a little bit nervous so I had to really concentrate and relax on the grid. I knew it was going to be difficult to open a gap but I had to try, I made a good start and pushed more than 100%. In the beginning it was hard to open the gap as Pedrosa didn’t want to let me get away, he tried to stay with me but after six or seven laps I opened the gap which made me more confident to keep my pace. I’m very happy for Yamaha and happy for Valentino as he has now passed two difficult years.” Valentino Rossi - 2nd “I’m more than happy, very happy indeed because it was my dream to come back with Yamaha. To arrive on the podium at the first race was my target from November and I put all my effort to arrive at the maximum here. It was a difficult weekend, especially yesterday in qualifying, but I know I had great pace so I tried to recover in the beginning but I made a mistake and I lost time. I had to do a great second part of the race and step by step I came close to my podium. In the end there was a great battle, especially with Marc for the second place. I’m so happy for me, for my team, for my friends and all my fans who stay with me through two difficult years and also for Yamaha, to start the season with first and second place is not so bad!” Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager “What a terrific start to the season, we are of course very pleased with the result. There are 17 races to go and it looks like it will be a fantastic season. The first race is always quite important to get a little advantage and have a good feeling. To have your first win for Jorge and of course second with Vale is great for the team and for the spirit because it will be a long season as we know so for everybody it's a big boost. We go to Austin now where we struggled a bit in the test but we have improved the bike already quite a bit. Hopefully we’ll be able to close the gap and have a good race there as well.” Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director “I have to say that this weekend started very well and finished even better. We couldn’t expect anything more. We won the race with a big gap and we finished second with Vale after he made an incredible comeback. I think the team did a really great job since Sepang test one, making the bike better and better and I thin this result is the icing on the cake. Everyone put in a lot of effort so I have to make a big thank you to then all. This is the best way to start the season and we won’t give up to until the end.” 2013 MotoGP Qatar Losail Circuit 02/04/2013 race I 1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 42'39.802 2 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 0'05.990 3 Marquez Marc Honda ESP 0'06.201 4 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 0'09.473 5 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 0'18.764 6 Alvaro Bautista Honda ESP 0'22.148 7 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati ITA 0'24.355 8 Nicky Hayden Ducati USA 0'24.920 9 Andrea Iannone Ducati ITA 0'37.124 10 Ben Spies Ducati USA 0'44.908 11 Aleix Espargaro ART ESP 0'49.809 12 Randy De Puniet ART FRA 0'56.495 13 Hector Barbera FTR ESP 1'09.599 14 Yonny Hernandez ART COL 1'10.742 15 Hiroshi Aoyama FTR JPN 1'13.600 MotoGP World Standing Rider Standings After Race 1 of 18 1. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 25 2. Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 20 3. Marquez Marc Honda ESP 16 4. Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 13 5. Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 11 6. Alvaro Bautista Honda ESP 10 7. Andrea Dovizioso Ducati ITA 9 8. Nicky Hayden Ducati USA 8 9. Andrea Iannone Ducati ITA 7 10. Ben Spies Ducati USA 6 11. Aleix Espargaro ART ESP 5 12. Randy De Puniet ART FRA 4 13. Hector Barbera FTR ESP 3 14. Yonny Hernandez ART COL 2 15. Hiroshi Aoyama FTR JPN 1

Jorge Lorenzo - 1st, Time - 1'56.685 “It's a very good way to start the season, on top. To have three Yamahas in the first three positions like in Jerez means this track can be positive for us. We need to improve though because the other guys will come in the next practice. We’ll make the step little by little by riding, improving the bike and also the track will improve. Today we tried both bikes and tomorrow we will try the new chassis here.” Valentino Rossi - 3rd, Time - 1'56.756 “The first practice was very positive for us, we are in third position and we are very close to Jorge. Our pace was ok, especially because I used just one set of tyres to understand if I could be fast with a lot of laps. The setting and balance of the bike is good so it looks like we can be competitive.” Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager “Our position is good, especially as the track is quite tricky and dirty, off line it’s quite slippery, but that’s normal here. To be on top and see the competitors struggling a little is good. It’s not what we want to be just yet but we have to be satisfied in first position.” Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director “It’s a good beginning and the bike is working very well. This circuit is really suits the YZR-M1. To see both riders consistently leading the practices means something positive. Well check the data now and make some small adjustments and see where we can go. The start has been good!” Crutchlow stars on opening night in Qatar The 2013 MotoGP World Championship roared into action tonight, with Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow one of the leading lights in the season's opening practice session at the floodlit Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The British rider was immediately battling for the top three in a session run in warm but windy conditions, which meant grip levels were far from ideal with sand and dust being blown onto the 5. 38km track surface from the surrounding desert landscape. An indication of how tricky track conditions were was reflected on the timesheets, with Crutchlow's best pace of 1.56.743 some way off the fastest race lap set by Casey Stoner in 2012 of 1.55.541. Full of confidence after setting the quickest time during last month's final pre-season test session at the Jerez track in Spain, Crutchlow continued his impressively fast form tonight to help Yamaha take a clean sweep of the top three in the 45-minute session. A 1.57.795 put him inside the top three and he was able to improve his pace by over a second to keep nine-times World Champion Valentino Rossi at bay and secure a stunning second position behind current title holder Jorge Lorenzo. Tonight's session saw Bradley Smith make his competitive debut for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team, the British rider making solid progress throughout the session and finished just outside of the top 10 on an encouraging opening night. The British rider dedicated the majority of his time on track to learning lines and braking markers on the YZR-M1 machine, which has never ridden at the Losail International Circuit. Smith completed 18 laps and gaining confidence throughout he ended the session with a best pace of 1.58.369 that put him on the brink of the top 10 in 11th and ahead of Andrea Iannone and Ben Spies. Crutchlow and Smith will continue their preparations for the unique night race tomorrow evening when two further practice sessions are held under the spectacular Losail International Circuit floodlights. Cal Crutchlow - 2nd, Time - 1'56.743 “It was a very good first session on a personal level with me finishing second and also for Yamaha with a clean sweep of the top three. As is always the case on the first night in Qatar the track was quite dirty, particularly off the racing line. Even on the racing line it was quite slippery but I am happy to be right in the mix from the start. We need to make some changes to the bike for tomorrow because I felt we had too much weight transfer on braking and acceleration but I've got to be happy to finish in second and ending up in between Jorge and Valentino. Second place is great but I am not reading too much into it. As the track conditions improve some of the rest will get faster and it is still going to be very tough to be on the podium. I am looking forward to the race and being so competitive from the sta rt certainly gives my confidence another lift and helps me carry on the momentum gained in testing.” Bradley Smith - 11th, Time – 1'58.368 "I'm really happy with my performance in my very first practice session in MotoGP. It's nice just to get rid of the initial nerves and tension that has been building up as you get ready for the beginning of the season. With such little time on track in 45 minutes we didn't tweak the bike too much. I just wanted to get familiar with the track because the lines and braking points are completely different to what I am used to in Moto2. Being on track with the rest of the field at the same time helps because I can pick up some pointers and I'll watch a video of the session again to understand where I can improve and be faster for FP2 and FP3, where it will be important to finish in the top 10 for the new qualifying format. I'm satisfied with my posit ion though and I am not a million miles behind Nicky and 1.6s off the best pace is the closest I have been since I first rode this bike, so that shows I am moving in the right direction.” Qatar Free Practice 1 Times: 1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 56.685s 2. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 56.743s 3. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 56.756s 4. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 57.276s 5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 1m 57.538s 6. Alvaro Bautista ESP Go Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V) 1m 57.601s 7. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 1m 57.670s 8. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 57.749s 9. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 1m 57.843s 10. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP13) 1m 57.926s 11. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 58.369s 12. Andrea Iannone ITA Energy T.I. Pramac Racing (GP13) 1m 58.559s 13. Ben Spies USA Ignite Pramac Racing (GP13) 1m 58.575s 14. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 1m 59.608s 15. Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 1m 59.633s 16. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (ART CRT) 1m 59.758s 17. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 0.341s 18. Yonny Hernandez COL Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 0.426s 19. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 0.563s 20. Claudio Corti ITA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 1.227s 21. Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT)* 2m 1.438s 22. Bryan Staring AUS Go Fun Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT)* 2m 1.942s 23. Lukas Pesek CZE Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT)* 2m 2.079s 24. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM CRT)* 2m 2.135s * Standard ECU. Source www.yamaha-racing.com