Oakley and Stoner on top step of the podium

After dominating the three free practices at Losail, Casey Stoner won the first pole of the 2011 season, the 27th of his career, at the Qatar Grand Prix, with excellent performance at the qualifications Saturday night.

On Sunday, Stoner ended the race 3.440 sec ahead of defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo, with Dani Pedrosa taking the third step of the podium.

For the first time in eight years, a Honda rider has won the GP that opens the MotoGP season: under the spotlights at the Losail circuit, Stoner added a 24th victory to his list. Also eagerly- awaited was Valentino Rossi’s debut in the Ducati stable.

Ben Spies came sixth: after an exciting head-to-head, the American overtook and pulled away from Rossi to snatch sixth position.