Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo (front) of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP competes during the MotoGP race of the Qatar Grand Prix on March 20, 2016 at the Losail International Circuit in the Qatari capital Doha. / AFP / KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo has taken out the opening race of the MotoGP season in Qatar.

The defending world champion led from start to finish, finishing ahead of Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso and Honda's Marc Marquez.

Lorenzo was ecstatic post race, after his team's gamble of soft rear tyre paid dividends.

“To choose the right rear tyre was very important. I try the hard in the warmup but I didn’t have a good feeling,” Lorenzo said.

“It was very risky to go for the soft one because our main rivals, Marquez and Rossi, choose the hard one, but in the last laps I could make fast laps.

“Very happy with this victory, always good to start on the podium but if possible victory is best.”

Australian Jack Miller finished in 14th place.