MotoGP Czech Republic 2015: Jorge Lorenzo wins Grand Prix to equal Valentino Rossi as leader in the standings

Spaniard dominates weekend taking pole and circuit record

(Getty Images)

Jorge Lorenzo dominated the race weekend from the Automotodrom in Brno, Czech Republic. Smashing circuit records, claiming pole position and leading the 22-lap race from the start line. This win puts the two-time world champion in joint first place in the standings with teammate Valentino Rossi, who has led from the start of the season.

"The weather warmed up and I was worried about the medium tyre for the end of the race," said A smiling Lorenzo. "I managed to open the gap after six laps, by the end the bike was sliding a lot and I was lucky to have a bigger gap. I’m very happy now I’m leading the championship with Valentino, and it’ll make it harder for Marc to recover."

The defending world champion, 22-year-old Marc Marquez managed to maintain his second position from start to finish, struggling to chase compatriot Lorenzo on his Yamaha M1 to battle for the win. By halfway the leader had created a gap of 1.9 seconds and when crossing the finish line, Marquez was 4.4 seconds behind the winner.

Jorge Lorenzo dominated at Brno (Getty Images)

Completing the podium in third place and gaining vital points, Rossi who notoriously qualifies poorly achieved a front row start in third place, but dropped back to fifth place when the lights went out. The Italian nine-times world champion swiftly took Bradley Smith on the first lap and fellow countryman Andrea Dovizioso on the second. In the chase to the front duo Rossi was unable to close the gap, taking the chequered flag 6.3 seconds behind the factory Honda of Marquez.

From parc ferme, Rossi said: “My start was bad and I didn’t have the rhythm, Marc and Jorge were faster than me. I tried to push but was not fast enough and strong enough to stay with them. I expected a better race”

The Ducati pair of Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone managed to hold Rossi back swapping places during the race with Iannone pulling ahead to take fourth and leaving Dovizioso to battle with the injured Dani Pedrosa. Having suffered a mechanical fault during FP3 yesterday causing him to crash and damage his ankle, Pedrosa qualified in a lowly ninth position on the grid. The 5’2” rider managed to claim two places in the opening laps, then spent the majority of the race chasing the Tech 3 Yamaha duo down before a final battle with the Ducati Desmosedici and winning fifth place from Dovizioso.

Top British rider Bradley Smith qualified in his highest grid position yet in fifth place and moved up to third place when the lights went out. With the four factory machines overtaking throughout the race, Smith crossed the line in seventh place, whilst fellow Brit and CWM-LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow crashed out from tenth place on lap 15.

Smith maintains his position of fifth in the overall championship standings, whilst Lorenzo and Rossi both lead with 211 points each, 52 points clear of Marquez going into the British round.

The next round comes to the UK, the race will be at Silverstone on Sunday 30th August. Catch the action from the whole weekend, live on BTSport2.