Mugello MotoGP: Lorenzo eases to victory

Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo extended his championship lead today, dominating at Mugello to win by over five seconds.

Lorenzo took advantage of Dani Pedrosa running slightly wide at the first corner to lead from start to finish. Pedrosa finished second, but was unable to keep up with his compatriot.

Tech 3 Yamaha rider Andrea Dovizioso claimed his fourth podium finish of the season after a battle with MotoGP rookie Stefan Bradl. Bradl held third for part of the race, but was unable to hold off Dovizioso on the brakes. Fourth position is Bradl’s best finish in the premier class.

Ducati rider Nicky Hayden was unlucky not to finish fifth. The American passed Bradl on the final lap, but the German moved straight back up to fourth, pushing the American wide.

Valentino Rossi took advantage of his team-mates misfortune to finish fifth at his home race. Cal Crutchlow was also able to move passed Hayden on the final lap to finish sixth after a poor start.

Current champion Casey Stoner also got a poor start, but had moved ahead of Hayden to fifth place before running off the track with 14 laps to go. The Australian rejoined in 10th behind Alvaro Bautista.

With eight laps to go Stoner made a pass on Bautista and collided with the Gresini Honda rider. Both riders managed to stay on to finish eighth and 10th respectively.

Yamaha rider Ben Spies had another disappointing race, the factory rider finishing 11th, just ahead of CRT victor Randy de Puniet.

Brit James Ellison was the third CRT bike home and finished inside the points in 14th position.

1 25 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 173.9 41’37.477
2 20 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 173.5 +5.223
3 16 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 173.2 +10.665
4 13 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 173.1 +10.711
5 11 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 173.1 +11.695
6 10 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 173.1 +12.060
7 9 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 173.0 +12.235
8 8 1 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 171.8 +30.617
9 7 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 171.7 +31.728
10 6 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 171.5 +34.589
11 5 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 170.0 +57.862
12 4 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Power Electronics Aspar ART 169.8 +59.963
13 3 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Power Electronics Aspar ART 169.1 +1’11.200
14 2 77 James ELLISON GBR Paul Bird Motorsport ART 169.1 +1’11.458
15 1 54 Mattia PASINI ITA Speed Master ART 169.0 +1’11.828
16  22 Ivan SILVA SPA Avintia Blusens BQR 164.7 1 Lap