Qatar MotoGP season opener

22:37 Our race report will be online shortly, along with more from the Qatar paddock this evening. Thanks for tuning in, and sticking with us early. We got there in the end for a cracking race to start the 2017 MotoGP season.

22:35 Dovizioso puts a brave face on defeat, although he can at least take satisfaction that he utterly outclassed Lorenzo on their first race as team-mates.

22:30 You suspect there are many more to come for the Vinales/Yamaha combination, too.

22:29 Of course, that's premier class win number two for Vinales, following that breakthrough win on the Suzuki at Silverstone last year.

22:28 Vinales gets a congratulatory pat on the head from his crew on a job well done. Not a bad way to start your Yamaha career.

22:28 What a race - worth the wait, wouldn't you say? And although Vinales was always the favourite, he had to do it the hard way. And what an effort from Dovizioso, you have to feel for him missing out on the top spot at Qatar yet again.

22:26 Loris Baz, Hector Barbera, Karel Abraham and Tito Rabat complete your scorers. No points for KTM, as Espargaro and Smith end up P16 and P17.

22:26 Lorenzo is P11, having slipped back behind Rins and Folger.

22:25 The Hondas of Marquez and Pedrosa complete the top five, followed by Aleix Espargaro's Aprilia, Scott Redding's Ducati, Jack Miller's Honda, Alex Rins' Suzuki and Jonas Folger's Yamaha.

22:24 Dovizioso has to settle for second yet again, and Rossi is third on the second Yamaha.

22:24 And there we have it, Maverick Vinales WINS THE QATAR GRAND PRIX!

22:23 Just a few corners left now for Maverick and he has enough of a gap barring an error...

22:22 Rossi is too far back to do anything about the win, it's Vinales v Dovi.

22:22 Vinales starts the last lap with an advantage of 0.2s - and holds the lead into Turn 1, critically.

22:22 Pedrosa is back through on Aleix Espargaro for P5, meanwhile.

22:21 The run down to Turn 1 on the last lap will be critical - but you sense Vinales has the edge now.

22:21 Vinales slips underneath the Ducati and back into the lead with a lap and a half to go!

22:20 Second to last lap. Dovizioso still leads as they round Turn 1.

22:20 Marquez meanwhile is very much out of it, he's 3.7s back in fourth.

22:19 Rossi still in the background in third, but he's running out of time to make his move...

22:19 Vinales throwing everything at the Ducati to get back through, but the two-time MotoGP winner is holding off the one-time winner for now...

22:18 Dovizioso is back through into the lead at Turn 1!

22:18 The top three are split by just 0.6s as we start the third to last lap here in Qatar. Who will it be?

22:17 Vinales managed to stave off Dovizioso along the main straight that time, and now Rossi is all over the back of his compatriot in the fight for P2.

22:17 Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro passes Pedrosa for fifth on the Aprilia. What a ride by the ex-Suzuki man!

22:15 Vinales back into the lead, Dovizioso just doesn't have the corner speed to live with the Yamahas.

22:15 Petrucci has retired out of P10.

22:15

22:14 Five to go - Vinales runs wide at Turn 1 and lets Dovizioso back into the lead!

22:14 Rossi is right with the lead duo now, Marquez has dropped back a little in fourth.

22:14 Vinales is quick to retaliate, finding a way back into the lead in the more technical part of the track.

22:13 Six laps to go, Vinales led by just 0.016s coming over the line there before being swamped by the superior firepower of 'Desmodovi'.

22:12 Dovizioso isn't done though, he drafts back past Vinales along the main straight and back into the lead!

22:12 And through goes the polesitter into the lead!

22:11 Vinales now right on the back of Dovizioso.

22:11 And Espargaro the elder has the Aprilia up to sixth place ahead of both Redding and Miller now, which is quite the achievement.

22:10 So - will Dovizioso's soft rear hold out for another seven laps? Vinales is looking menacing, and Rossi isn't out of this one either...

22:09 Vinales has made major inroads into Dovizioso's lead ahead, though. Eight laps to go and the gap is down to 0.7s.

22:08 Rossi and Marquez side-by-side, and The Doctor gets the move done to the delight of his many fans. P3.

22:08 Miller has lost a place to Redding, who moves up to P6 and leads the independents' fight. Lorenzo is up to ninth, meanwhile.

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Qatar MotoGP season opener

Summary

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