Lorenzo heats up title race with win
Added on Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Lorenzo heats up title race with win
Jorge Lorenzo scored his second MotoGP victory of the season at Mugello this afternoon, enhancing his championship title chances in the process.
After qualifying further down the top ten in yesterday’s qualifying session, Lorenzo was hoping of a strong race today, to compensate for his eventful outing at Assern just one week ago. Championship leader Casey Stoner rocketed to pole position courtesy of a new lap record yesterday afternoon, however was unable to fend off Lorenzo.
Stoner grasped the early lead, as he edged away at the front. Despite his pace on his Repsol Honda machine, the Australian was forced to relinquish his lead with just six laps to go. After fighting his way through the pack, Lorenzo soon found himself controlling the pace, which he held onto until the chequered flag.
Sadly for Stoner his race wasn’t over, when teammae Andrea Dovizioso saw an opportunity to shine in front of his home crowd. On the last lap he lunged passed Stoner for second, leaving the championship leader to settle for third place.
After starting on the front row of the grid, Ben Spies managed a fourth place finish, following a tough challenge from Marco Simoncelli for the position. Unwilling to give up fourth too easily, Spies crossed the line ahead of Simoncelli.
Valentino Rossi headed a five way battle for sixth place for the majority of the outing, however as the laps counted downwards towards the end, the Ducati ace was able to break away to ensure he secured the position. Earlier on Rossi had been tussling with Hector Barbera, Alvaro Bautista, Colin Edwards and Dani Pedrosa. After a number of swaps for position throughout them it was Barbera who crossed the line seventh, ahead of the returning Pedrosa and Colin Edwards.
Nicky Hayden found himself with a tenth place finish, having run off the track earlier on in the race. After running in the top ten for much of the venture, Bautista eventually crossed the finish line thirteenth. Cal Crutchlow was the sole retirement of the race, when he was forced to pit due to a suspected front tyre issue. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider was forced to pit last weekend at Assen with a similar problem, yet it continues to haunt him.
Stoner is still in control of the championship standings, but Lorenzo now trails him by just 19 points. Third place has currently been secured by Dovizioso on a total of 19 points, ahead of Rossi with 91 points.
The next round takes place at the German Sachsenring circuit, on the 17th July.
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