Spain’s 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo won the Italian MotoGP yesterday to extend his lead in the overall standings.
The 25-year-old Yamaha rider came home clear of compatriot Dani Pedrosa on a Honda while Italian Andrea Dovizioso was third on another Yamaha at the Mugello.
It was Lorenzo’s 43rd career success and sees him extend his lead to 19 points over Pedrosa, who won last weekend’s German race.
However, Pedrosa’s Honda team-mate and defending world champion Casey Stoner saw his chances of bowing out in his final year on the circuit with the title fade further as he trailed home in eighth spot.
“This black mamba helmet has brought me the luck I was missing at Assen (a fortnight ago when he crashed and was then second in Germany),” said Lorenzo, who was recording his fifth win of the season.
“We made no mistakes all weekend. The start was tough but little by little I gained confidence and then when I opened a little gap I was able to relax and I cruised after that.”
Pedrosa too was delighted.
“We did a good job in the race but it was very difficult with Jorge going at that pace,” said the 26-year-old.
“It was so difficult and I couldn’t catch him.”
Dovizioso was ecstatic at recording his fourth podium finish in five races which has seen him being linked with higher profile rides next season.
“I’m really happy to get a podium finish in this race which every rider dreams of doing,” said the 26-year-old.
“I thought I could stay with Lorenzo but it proved impossible.”
A lead group of five settled early on with Lorenzo leading Dovizioso, Pedrosa in third and German rookie Stefan Bradl in fourth with Nicky Hayden in fifth.
Pedrosa was desperately trying to pass Dovizioso to stop Lorenzo opening too much of a gap up front and managed to with 18 laps remaining but trailed his compatriot by over a second.
Valentino Rossi was charging a bit having started in a lowly 10th spot and passed Hector Barbera as did Cal Crutchlow as they zeroed in on trying to catch Stoner.
Stoner had moved into fifth, past Hayden, with 14 laps to the finish and in pursuit of fourth spot which was occupied by Dovizioso as he had been overtaken by the impressive Bradl.
Stoner’s rough patch these past few races continued as he exited the track a lap later and onto the gravel but he was able to regain the race, but having fallen five spots into 10th.
Up front, though, Stoner’s team-mate Pedrosa had narrowed the gap on Lorenzo, but the latter effortlessly increased it within a lap as he went up a gear and with 10 laps of the race to go was almost two seconds ahead.
As Lorenzo sauntered to victory, Dovizioso reclaimed the final spot on the podium from Bradl with three laps remaining while Rossi seized fifth on the final lap with Crutchlow close behind.
The top 10 riders
1. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 185 points; 2. Pedrosa (Honda) 166; 3. Stoner (Honda) 148; 4. Dovizioso (Ya-maha) 108; 5. Crutchlow (Yamaha) 95; 6. Rossi (Ducati) 82; 7. Bradl (Honda) 75; 8. Hayden (Ducati) 74; 9. Bautista (Honda) 73; 10. Spies (Yamaha) 66.
Next race: July 29 – US GP.