Motorcycling: Lorenzo's win in Italy puts defending champion back on track

(AP)

The defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso finished one-two in the Italian Grand Prix yesterday to cut into Casey Stoner's lead atop the MotoGP standings.

Stoner started from pole but the Australian was passed first by Lorenzo with seven laps to go, then by Dovizioso on the final lap.

Lorenzo, a Spaniard who rides for the Yamaha factory team, clocked 41 minutes, 50.089 seconds at the Mugello circuit. Dovizioso, an Italian with the Repsol Honda team, crossed 0.997sec behind with team-mate Stoner 1.143 back.

"I left all my energy on the track," an exhausted Lorenzo said. "It was very complicated to pass [Stoner]).

"I won with my heart and it's magnificent. I'm so happy. Casey was so quick but, little by little, lap by lap I managed to catch him. I finally saw the chance to overtake on the downhill section and was able to take it."

Stoner blamed a problem with his tyres for the defeat, adding: "I did everything I could but the tyre pressure went up too high and I lost all grip in the rear. I tried to keep a consistent pace but I was just too slow at the end."

Nearing the season midpoint, Stoner now leads Lorenzo by 19 points and is 33 points ahead of Dovizioso. Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi finished sixth – after starting 12th – and remained fourth in the standings, 61 points back.

Spanish riders won in all three classes. Suter rider Marc Marquez took his second consecutive Moto2 race by posting a narrow victory over German rival Stefan Bradl, who still holds a 52-point lead in the standings. In the 125cc class, Aprilia rider Nicolas Terol edged Johann Zarco for the win and opened up a 39-point lead over his French opponent.

MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna Sports SL and the Mugello circuit announced that they have reached a new five-year deal to keep the Italian GP at Mugello.