Doohan's first win of season

WORLD motorcycling champion Michael Doohan launched the defence of his 500cc crown with an emphatic victory in the season-opening Australian grand prix near Sydney yesterday.

The 29-year-old Australian cruised home 13 seconds ahead of compatriot Daryl Beattie after leading from start to finish at Eastern Creek.

Germany's Ralf Waldmann took the 250cc race with a narrow win over Japan's Tetsuya Harada.