Lorenzo takes third victory of season

From motogp.com

MotoGP World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo took victory from pole position at Silverstone on Sunday as he stretched his lead at the top of the standings to 37 points over Andrea Dovizioso, who placed second in the race. Ben Spies achieved his first MotoGP podium with third place.

"This was an important day for me and an important win, because I felt so strong and I enjoyed riding my Yamaha so much. I had a different feeling today; I felt that it was going to be a good race,” said Lorenzo, whose Championship lead now stands at 37 points over race runner-up Dovizioso after a third win of the 2010 campaign.

“I never dreamt of taking three wins from five races but here we are and I am feeling very strong mentally at this moment.”

Lorenzo’s 6.743-sec. lead as he crossed the finish line came after he pulled away from the remainder of the field early on in the race, but he had to work hard in the opening laps to establish his advantage.

“It was quite hard to be fast at the start and the first lap with Dani (Pedrosa) was difficult, but once I got past him I felt very relaxed and comfortable,” said the 23 year-old, who started from pole for the first time this season. “I thought he would follow me for a bit longer but he didn't and then I was on my own, so I just had to focus on myself; I didn't even know who was behind me.”

Dovizioso’s consistency this season moved up another gear at the AirAsia British Grand Prix on Sunday, where the Repsol Honda rider secured his best finish of 2010 to date.

"I’m really happy with second in the race, and we also have second in the Championship now so this reflects our strong start to the season,” said Dovizioso, who shot up from fourth on the starting grid and then enjoyed a battle with Randy de Puniet for the majority of the 20-lap race.

“In the middle of the race I saw many riders were closing in behind me and so I tried to push at 100 percent to get a gap and try to avoid a fight on last lap. Corners 13 and 14 towards the end of the lap are really slow and you can see clearly the riders that are behind, and it would be easy to be overtaken here on the last lap if they were too close, so it was important to get a gap, which I managed to do.”

Spies admitted he did not expect to be celebrating a top-three finish so soon in his debut season. After a difficult practice session on Saturday Spies qualified in seventh place, and he tracked down the pack which was competing for the remaining two podium steps behind race winner Lorenzo.

“I didn't expect to get my first podium so quickly, especially after yesterday which wasn't the best for me,” explained Spies, who rose up the field to mount a daring final-lap overtake on Nicky Hayden at Abbey Corner to take third spot.

“I got a decent start but once I got by Dani (Pedrosa) and (Marco) Simoncelli I just tried to stay on the back of the group battling for the podium. Once I realized I could stay in contention I just tried to save the rear tire as much as I could and it all worked out.

“That last lap was difficult to pass Nicky but I got a really good drive onto the back straight and tried to pass him at Stowe Corner, but he came back by. On the next straight I managed to get by him and then had to ride quite defensively on the last part of the lap. I was on the edge but I had to go for the podium and it worked out.

“It will be hard to duplicate this but right now I'll let it sink in and make the most of it. But on this day I can say I was the third best rider in the world and it is a good feeling.”

Lorenzo flew off from his pole position and he and Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) immediately engaged in a duel which saw them swap the lead on the opening lap a number of times. Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda), Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro) were all involved as well, while Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) dropped to the back of the field from his starting position of sixth as the riders entered the first turn.

Marco Melandri suffered disappointment as he crashed out on the opening lap, but his San Carlo Honda Gresini team-mate Marco Simoncelli enjoyed better fortunes as he climbed positions.

Lorenzo wasted little time in finding a rapid rhythm and by lap 7 his advantage at the head of the race was a substantial one at over five seconds. Meanwhile Dovizioso and De Puniet ignited an intense contest for second spot, with Hayden hot on their tails. Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Spies was also making progress as he moved through to enter the top five and latched onto the chase for a podium spot.

Midway through Stoner’s lap times were almost identical to race leader Lorenzo’s, but in eighth place he was forced to chase down Pedrosa and the Australian found it hard work trying to pass the Spaniard. He eventually managed to do so on lap 13, and then proceeded to make up further ground.

Loris Capirossi’s race was ended early when the Rizla Suzuki rider crashed out at Copse as he ran off and fell while trying to overtake Héctor Barberá (Páginas Amarillas Aspar).

At the front end Dovizioso, De Puniet and Hayden were separated by less than half a second as they continued their tactical tussle for the final two podium spots – Spies keeping a tag on as well – with Lorenzo’s lead by now an unassailable one.

With three laps to go Hayden and Spies both managed to pass De Puniet, and Stoner scented the chance to get in the hunt. He soon made a move on the Frenchman to slot into fifth in a rousing finale.

The final lap provided a fitting climax as Spies got through on Hayden at Farm Curve to take third spot, a position he held to the finish while ahead Lorenzo crossed the line first.

There was another unique Lorenzo celebration to mark the occasion, as he and three of his entourage donned Beatles costumes in tribute to the famous British band.

“The Beatles celebration was something fun for the fans. I love their music and I thought it was nice to make a homage to them, since we're in England,” he added.

Dovizioso’s second place was his fourth podium finish and best result of the season, with Spies completing the top three for a first World Championship podium.

Ducati Marlboro duo Hayden and Stoner took fourth and fifth after fine individual rides, with De Puniet sixth.

Rookie Simoncelli took his best premier class result to date with seventh, as Pedrosa finished eighth.

The top 10 was completed by Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Aleix Espargaró (Pramac Racing).

Absent from the race was Hiroshi Aoyama (Interwetten Honda MotoGP) who attended hospital to assess his condition following a crash in the morning warm up session.

Jules Cluzel celebrated the first win of his World Championship career on Sunday at the AirAsia British Grand Prix, riding his Suter of the Forward Racing team to the Moto2 victory ahead of Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Racing) and Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) at Silverstone.

Tenth place finisher Toni Elías remains at the top of the Championship standings on 80 points, with Shoya Tomizawa, sixth on Sunday, still second on 65. Lüthi climbs to third on 58, with Simón and Simone Corsi both on 51 in fourth and fifth.

The front row of the grid occupied the top four slots in the race order for much of the duration of the 125cc race at the AirAsia British Grand Prix, as Marc Márquez took his second win of the season.

MotoGP Race Results
1. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Fiat Yamaha 41:34.083
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Repsol Honda +6.743
3. Ben SPIES (USA) Monster Tech 3 Yamaha +7.097
4. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) Ducati +7.314
5. Casey STONER (AUS) Ducati +7.494
6. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) LCR Honda +9.055
7. Marco SIMONCELLI (ITA) San Carlo Gresini Honda +14.425
8. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda +15.313
9. Colin EDWARDS (USA) Monster Tech 3 Yamaha +27.954
10. Aleix ESPARGARO (SPA) Pramac Ducati +42.394
11. Hector BARBERA (SPA) Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati +43.365
12. Alvaro BAUTISTA (SPA) Rizla Suzuki +43.408
13. Mika KALLIO (FIN) Pramac Ducati +43.580
Not Classified
Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) Rizla Suzuki
Marco MELANDRI (ITA) San Carlo Gresini Honda

MotoGP Point Standings
1. Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha) 115
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda) 78
3. Dani PEDROSA (Honda) 73
4. Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha) 61
5. Nicky HAYDEN (Ducati) 52
6. Randy DE PUNIET (Honda) 46
7. Ben SPIES (Yamaha) 36
8. Casey STONER (Ducati) 35
9. Marco MELANDRI (Honda) 32
10. Marco SIMONCELLI (Honda) 32
11. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha) 26
12. Hector BARBERA (Ducati) 24
13. Aleix ESPARGARO (Ducati) 22
14. Hiroshi AOYAMA (Honda) 18
15. Mika KALLIO (Ducati) 15
16. Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki) 13
17. Alvaro BAUTISTA (Suzuki) 12