Who won the first MotoGP race of the 1000cc era in 2012?

Jorge Lorenzo won the first MotoGP race of the 1000cc era in 2012.

That race was the 2012 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, held on 8 April at the Losail International Circuit. It opened the 2012 season and marked MotoGP’s return to a maximum engine capacity of 1000cc after the 800cc rules used from 2007 through 2011. Lorenzo started from pole position on his Yamaha YZR-M1 and converted it into victory.

He finished ahead of Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner, who completed the podium. Stoner, the reigning champion, was a major threat during the race, making him an easy name to confuse with the winner. Lorenzo’s victory also gave Yamaha an immediate advantage in the new technical era.

The 2012 regulations limited the premier-class machines to four cylinders and an 81mm maximum cylinder bore. The 1000cc rules remained in place until MotoGP introduced a new technical generation in 2027.