Loris Capirossi was the third best
Bridgestone rider in eighth, on his Rizla Suzuki debut, while
Randy de Puniet dropped from fifth to ninth during his first race for Honda LCR.
Third placed Pedrosa - pushed into parc ferme after his 2008 Honda ran out of fuel on the slowing down lap – was all smiles as he returned to pit lane, but Repsol Honda team-mate
Nicky Hayden - riding a 2007 spec RC212V - had a race to forget, the 2006 world champion crossing the line in tenth position.
Eleventh for Stoner's team-mate
Marco Melandri was actually a substantial improvement on his practice form, while
John Hopkins finished his Kawasaki debut in a disappointing twelfth.
A fast late-race fall for
Alex de Angelis meant
Shinya Nakano was the only San Carlo Honda Gresini rider to reach the flag, in 13th, while Alice Team riders
Toni Elias and
Sylvain Guintoli collected the final world championship points for 14th and 15th.
Hopkins' factory team-mate
Anthony West was spared the embarrassment of finishing last, but only after countryman
Chris Vermeulen was forced to make a pit stop due to apparent tyre problems.
Qatar Grand Prix:
1. Stoner
2. Lorenzo
3. Pedrosa
4. Dovizioso
5. Rossi
6. Toseland
7. Edwards
8. Capirossi
9. de Puniet
10. Hayden
11. Melandri
12. Hopkins
13. Nakano
14. Elias
15. Guintoli
16. West
17. Vermeulen
