2012 Qatar Moto3 Race Result: Thrilling Duel Goes Down To Final Laps

Results and summary of the inaugural Moto3 race at Qatar:

Maverick Vinales has confirmed his preseason form by winning the first ever Moto3 race, held at Qatar. The Spaniard fended off a race-long challenge from Italian Romano Fenati, before breaking away with four laps to go. Sandro Cortese won an epic battle over the final spot on the podium, at the head of a group of 7 men.

Fenati got the holeshot, and quickly made a break for the front, with Maverick Vinales joining him after ridding himself of Sandro Cortese and Arthur Sissis. The two leaders set a scorching pace, pulling a large gap from the chasing pack. Once Vinales caught Fenati, he slid ahead of him at the end of Qatar's long straight, Fenati immediately latching on to the Spaniard. 

Fenati would not settle for 2nd easily. The Italian tried to get past Vinales at the end of the straight on every lap, eventually succeeding just after the halfway mark. Vinales slotted in behind Fenati, and four laps later, did unto Fenati what Fenati had done unto him, the difference being that once he got past the Team Italia FMI rider, Vinales put the hammer down and pulled away. The Blusens Avintia rider brought it home unchallenged, to take victory ahead of Fenati, making it a 1-2 for FTR Honda.

The final podium slot would not be settled so easily. Luis Salom, Sandro Cortese and Miguel Oliveira fought amongst themselves in the early laps, but were joined in the latter stages by Zulfahmi Khairuddin, Arthur Sissis, Danny Kent and Louis Rossi. It came down to bravery on the last lap, and though Salom started the final lap in charge, a brave pass round the rear section saw Cortese take 3rd, demoting Salom to 4th.

Results: