Italian MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo crashes out of top six in Mugello

Jorge Lorenzo’s 100th GP celebrations fell flat as his MotoGP world title hopes suffered a big blow in Mugello when he crashed out of sixth place.

The Spaniard, who started the race trailing series leader and factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi by just three-points, crashed on lap seven after he had just moved by fellow 250 graduate Andrea Dovizoso.

Still short of 100 per cent fitness after suffering two fractured ankles in China last month, Lorenzo struggled all weeked to find a good set-up and his crash was his first major setback of what has so far been a sensational rookie campaign.

The double world 250 champion said: “We have had a lot of problems this weekend but today for the race I was feeling very motivated and I got a good start. I think I could have fought for the podium and I can only say sorry to my team and to all of my fans; it was my mistake.

“I shouldn’t have tried to pass Dovizioso in this corner, it wasn’t the right place and I will learn from it. I am not worried about my mental condition though and I am now focused on Catalunya.

“Montmelo is coming and this is a good thing because I only have to wait five days until I can ride the bike again. In China we had to make some changes to the bike to enable me to ride in my condition and since then maybe we haven’t been exactly right with the set-up, but now we know where the problem is.”