The German motorcycle pilot Marcel Schrötter finished tenth in the Moto2 category at the start of the World Championships in the desert emirate of Qatar.
The 29-year-old from Landsberg started the race on the Losail Grand Prix circuit in Doha from 13th place on the grid and was 18.9 seconds down after 20 laps. Schrötter had to ride with a hand splint because he fractured his left hand during test drives. He is the only German fixed starter in this World Cup year.
Victory in the first World Championship round of the season went to the Italian Celestino Vietti from the junior academy of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. Spaniard Aron Canet and Englishman Sam Lowes completed the podium in Doha.
In the final MotoGP race, Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati) secured his first victory in the premier class. The Spaniard Pol Espargaro (Honda) led the race for a long time, but was passed in the final phase in third place. Second place went to the South African Brad Binder (KTM). World champion Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) did not have a good start to the season. The Frenchman only finished the race in ninth place. Former world champion Marc Marquez (Honda) did not make it onto the podium either. The Spaniard finished the race in fifth place behind compatriot Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia).
The next World Championship round will take place in two weeks in Mandalika, Indonesia. (dpa)