Motorcycling: Lorenzo stays patient to reel in Rossi as Yamaha keep on top

(AP)

Jorge Lorenzo won the French MotoGP here yesterday to extend his world championship lead over Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi to nine points. The Spaniard finished 5.67 seconds ahead of world champion Rossi, with Italian Andrea Dovizioso grabbing third for Honda on the last lap.

"Passing Valentino wasn't easy because he was braking so deep and I had to be patient, something that I might not have managed one year ago. Finally I overtook him but I didn't expect to be able to get away like that," said Lorenzo after his first back-to-back MotoGP wins which completed a Yamaha hat-trick with Rossi winning the season-opener in Qatar last month.

Rossi led into the first corner ahead of Dani Pedrosa but Lorenzo quickly seized second and then set about reeling in the leader. With Australian Casey Stoner sliding off his Ducati on the second lap, the former champion's second non- finish of the season, the focus was on the Yamaha team-mates and Lorenzo made his move on lap seven.

The Spaniard took the lead but failed to make it stick and had to do it again three laps later. This time Rossi had no reply and Lorenzo pulled right away.