Nagashima and Arenas Win the Grand Prix of Qatar

Doha, March 08 (QNA) - Tetsuta Nagashima and Albert Arenas claimed Sunday wins in the first grand prix of the season, which took place in Qatar at Losail International Circuit and was attended by HE Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali. Tetsuta Nagashima blew the competition away in the final stages of a belting Moto2 race at the QNB Grand Prix of Qatar to claim his first Grand Prix victory. Lorenzo Baldassarri claimed second place, with Enea Bastianini coming in third. With four laps remaining, Nagashima was looking ominous in his pursuit to the front. The Ajo-backed rider picked off Roberts for P3 before taking control of the race at Turn 2 with three to go and immediately Nagashima was creeping away. The number 45 grabbed a 0.3 lead as the race entered the final two laps, with the battle for the remaining podium places bubbling up nicely. Remy Gardner was latching onto the back of Navarro as five riders scrapped it out behind Nagashima, who by the time hed clocked onto the final lap was over a second clear. Simply stunning latter race pace for the Japanese man and Nagashima would make no mistake on the final lap to take an emotional first Grand Prix victory. Meanwhile in the Moto3 category, Albert Arenas heroics in the QNB Grand Prix of Qatar Moto3 race helped KTM win their 100th Grand Prix across all classes. Moto GP's official website said that it was the first KTM victory at the Losail International Circuit since Jack Miller claimed victory at the opening round in 2014 as 2020 began in stunning fashion for the Austrian factory, with Tetsuta Nagashima winning on the Red Bull KTM Ajo bike in Moto2 too. KTM have gone from strength to strength since Casey Stoner earned their first Grand Prix victory in 2004, the Australian standing on the top step in Malaysia for his second GP win. The first intermediate class victory for KTM came in the capable hands of Hiroshi Aoyama in 2006, when the Japanese star stood on the top step at the Grand Prix of Turkey after fending off Hector Barbera and Andrea Dovizioso for the win. To this date, Brad Binder is KTMs most successful rider in Grand Prix racing with 15 wins to his name, with Miguel Oliveira and Mika Kallio boasting 12 apiece. (QNA)