Casey Stoner makes winning start to 2011 MotoGP season with victory in Qatar . Australian triumphs on his debut for Honda factory team in his 24th race win . The 25-year-old finished 3.440 seconds ahead of Yamaha 's second-placed world champion Jorge Lorenzo , with Honda Repsol teammate Dani Pedrosa third . 2010 champion Jorge Lorenzo claims second place from 2010 rival Dani Pedrosa . Two - time defending champion Valentino Rossi back in seventh on Ducati debut .
Casey Stoner makes winning start to 2011 MotoGP season with victory in Qatar . Australian triumphs on his debut for Honda factory team in his 24th race win . 2010 champion Jorge Lorenzo claims second place from 2010 rival Dani Pedrosa . Two - time defending champion Valentino Rossi back in seventh on Ducati debut .