Pole-sitter Casey Stoner has made a winning start to life with his new team Honda as he swept to victory in the opening race of the 2011 MotoGP season in Qatar.
The Australian finished ahead of world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain on a Yamaha, who edged Stoner's team-mate Dani Pedrosa of Spain into third place.
Valentino Rossi came seventh on his Ducati debut, having narrowly avoided coming off with seven laps left.
Stoner, the 2007 World Champion, has spent the last 4 years with Ducati.
