NINE-TIME World Champion Valentino Rossi has won the 2015 MotoGP season opener in Qatar after battling with Ducati team-mates Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone.

36-year-old Rossi came up against both of the Ducati GP15’s of Dovizioso and Iannone only to come out on top with the Ducati’s finishing second and third respectively creating an all Italian podium.

After an intense battle and numerous changes to the leader, the opening race of the 2015 MotoGP season proved that the Repsol Honda’s of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa are not only up against the Movistar Yamaha team, but the Ducati team now have what it takes.

Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez ran wide at turn 1 on the first lap after nearly colliding with Alvaro Bautista, which shuffled Marquez right to the back of the pack, but he re-joined. The 21-year-old managed to slice his way through the field, but could only manage 5th behind Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo.

Marquez’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa finished in 6th, 10.755s off the pace of Rossi, but has now revealed he’s been suffering from arm pump for over a year.

CWM LCR Honda’s Cal Crtuchlow finished in 7th just over 12 seconds off the pace of front man Rossi, but the Brit did finish as the leading satellite bike.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro finished in eighth and ninth respectively with only 0.117s between them.

Aleix Espargaro finished in 11th for Team Suzuki Ecstar, 19s off the pace of the front with his rookie team-mate, Maverick Vinales, finishing in 14th.

Avintia Racing’s Hector Barbera finished as the top Open class rider in 15th. 

Race results:

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 42:35.717
2. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team 42:35.891 (+0.174)
3. Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team 42:37.967(+2.250)
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 42:38.424(+2.707)
5. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team 42:42.753 (+7.036)
6. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 42:46.472 (+10.755)
7. Cal Crutchlow GBR CWM LCR Honda 42:48.101 (+12.384)
8. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 42:48.631 (+12.914)
9. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 42:48.748 (+13.031)
10. Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing 42:53.152 (+17.435)
11. Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar 42:55.618 (+19.901)
12. Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Racing 43:0.149 (+24.432)
13. Scott Redding GBR Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS 43:7.749 (+32.032)
14. Maverick Viñales ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar 43:9.180 (+33.463)
15. Hector Barbera* ESP Avintia Racing 43:9.342 (+33.625)
16. Stefan Bradl* GER Athina Forward Racing  43:9.661 (+38.944)
17. Nicky Hayden* USA Aspar 43:14.687 (+38.970)
18. Eugene Laverty* IRL Aspar 43:22.287 (+46.570)
19. Mike Di Meglio* FRA Avintia Racing 43:34.928 (+59.211)
20. Alex De Angelis RSM Octo IodaRacing 43:50.698 (+1:14.981)
21. Marco Melandri ITA Factory Aprilia Gresini 44:23.860 (+1:48.143)
22. Loris Baz* FRA Athina Forward Racing (+3 laps)

DNF. Karel Abraham* CZE Cardion AB Motoracing
DNF. Jack Miller* AUS CWM LCR Honda
DNF. Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini