Ramsey resident Cal Crutchlow finished in a creditable 11th place on his MotoGP debut in Qatar on Sunday.
Debutant Cruthchlow said he was glad to have got his first race out of the way after an unsteady start.
‘I struggled at the start - the tyres never came in, they just didn't work for the first five laps and I lost a bit laps 4-10, but then things started to get fast again when Nicky (Hayden) came past and I started to pick up,’ he said.
‘I'm happy enough - at least we're here and doing it, I'm glad to get that one out.’
Casey Stoner made a winning start to life with Repsol Honda as he swept to victory 3.44 seconds ahead of world champion Jorge Lorenzo, who edged Stoner's team-mate Dani Pedrosa into third place.
Valentino Rossi came seventh on his Ducati debut, having narrowly avoided coming off with seven laps left.
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