Lorenzo extends championship lead with convincing win at Mugello (+result)

In a hard-fought MotoGP™ race at the Gran Premio d’Italia TIM at Mugello

It was Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo who stormed to a dominant victory ahead of Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso.  Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa led into turn one, however Lorenzo got past into the lead within a few bends, as the grid diced for positions in the early stages.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Andrea Dovizioso also pushed past Pedrosa early on, as Ducati Team’s Nicky Hayden and LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl fought for fourth.

Repsol Honda’s Stoner, the only rider to use the special construction rear hard tyre, did not have a great start, and had to fight his way past Pramac Racing Team’s Héctor Barberá to make up positions. Meanwhile San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Michele Pirro was black flagged due to a cutting the track as he headed back into pit lane with a technical issue. With 21 laps to go, Avintia Blusens’ Iván Silva run into the gravel in turn one, but managed to stay on.

Two laps on, Pedrosa was all over the back of Dovizioso, as Lorenzo started to pull out a small gap at the front. Ducati’s Valentino Rossi had fought his way up to seventh to the delight of the home crowd, while Hayden was dropping off Bradl slightly in fifth.

Rossi was having no easy ride however, as Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow was looking for a way past on his satellite Yamaha. At the back it looked as if Lorenzo’s teammate Spies seemed to have a problem, as he was passed by Power Electronics Aspar’s Randy de Puniet into 11th.

With 15 laps remaining Stoner’s tyres had come up to temperature, as the Australian managed to push his way past Hayden into fifth. A lap later Bradl put in a brave move in turn one to slot into third. This was followed up by big drama as Stoner ran off track into the gravel, managing to keep the bike upright and re-joining in tenth.

Silva’s teammate Yonny Hernandez meanwhile crashed out of 18th place, but managed to walk away unhurt. NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Colin Edwards also had his race cut short as he retired with a mechanical issue.

With eight laps remaining the grid had spread out, yet Crutchlow was still dicing with Rossi, passing him briefly, but the Italian soon fought back to regain sixth spot down the home straight.

A lap later Stoner had caught up to the back of San Carlo’s Álvaro Bautista, who was making it hard for the Australian to get past. Stoner ultimately put in an aggressive move, pushing the Spaniard wide and moving up into ninth.

The final three laps promised further excitement as Dovizioso went past Bradl on the brakes into third, while Hayden, and the pursuing duo of Rossi and Crutchlow closed in on the podium battle. Stoner had made up another place further back, passing Barberá for eighth spot.

In the final lap Hayden made his move past Bradl, who fought back with a hard move, which pushed the American wide. This let Rossi through into fifth, with Crutchlow also taken advantage to nip into sixth.

Yet ultimately it was Lorenzo who took the chequered flag for his second successive victory at the track in front of Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, who recoded his fourth podium of the season. Bradl was however one of the happiest riders, as he recorded his best ever finish in the premier class.

Fifth spot went to Rossi, followed by Crutchlow, Hayden, Stoner, Barberá and Bautista. Top CRT spot went to De Puniet in 12th. Lorenzo now has a 19 point gap at the top of the championship ahead of Pedrosa and 37 ahead of Stoner.

Result:

source: MotoGP.com