MotoGP news

Lorenzo takes dominant win at Le Mans

Jorge Lorenzo has dominated Sunday's Grand Prix at Le Mans. The Spaniard took his second win of the season and now leads the 2009 champinship again. Marco Melandri finished the race in second, just ahead of Dani Pedrosa who took third.

Spanish star Jorge Lorenzo found the perfect remedy for his Jerez frustrations at Le Mans, bouncing straight back from his DNF in Spain with a brilliant win at the Grand Prix de France in highly difficult conditions - to return to the top of the standings.

Lorenzo took the lead on the first lap and shot away at the front, building up a big advantage on wet tyres as the track dried quickly, eventually being the last rider to change onto slicks in his first ever 'flag-to-flag' contest and riding superbly on both sets of tyres to win by a 17 second margin.

Another brilliant effort by Hayate Racing's Marco Melandri saw him cross the line second for his first podium since 2007, having been unsure of his MotoGP future over the winter.

Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa hunted down his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso on the final lap for third place to secure his third consecutive podium result.

A nightmare for Valentino Rossi saw him slip from first to joint second in the standings after a chaotic race. The World Champion swapped bikes three times, suffered a crash and was given a ride through for speeding in pit lane before eventually finishing last.

Australians Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) and Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) were fifth and sixth respectively, with Stoner drawing level with Rossi in second place in the championship.

Lorenzo's advantage at the top of the standings is just one point, ahead of title favourites Rossi and Stoner who sit jointly in second position with 65 points each. Mugello, one of Rossi's favourite venues and his home circuit, will host the next round, the Gran Premio d'Italia Alice, the fifth date on the 2009 MotoGP World Championship calendar.

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• 07 Nov.
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  • Lorenzo enjoys 16th front row of the season
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• 06 Nov.
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  • Photos: Friday in Valencia
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  • Lorenzo searching for home victory
  • Stoner leads Friday practice in Valencia
• 05 Nov.
  • Suppo to leave Ducati
  • Valencia extends contract to 2016
• 04 Nov.
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• 03 Nov.
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  • Rossi: Now we can enjoy ourselves
  • Pedrosa determined to finish on a high
• 27 Oct.
  • Ducati test rider to become Team Manager
• 25 Oct.
  • Lorenzo faced difficult race at Sepang
  • Photos: Sunday at Sepang
  • Title a great achievement says Rossi
  • Rossi claims 2009 championship as Stoner wins the race
• 24 Oct.
  • Photos: Saturday at Sepang
  • Stoner disappointed with fourth place
  • Motivated Pedrosa aims for race win at Sepang
  • Lorenzo unhappy with lack of pace
  • Rossi surprised with pole position record
  • Rossi dominates in qualifying with pole position record
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• 23 Oct.
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  • Lap times not worrying, says Pedrosa
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  • Photos: Friday at Sepang
  • Lorenzo leads opening Sepang practice
• 22 Oct.
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• 21 Oct.
  • Elías targeting 4-place rise
  • Pedrosa hoping to secure Sepang victory
  • Rossi hoping for more 'gold dust'
• 20 Oct.
  • Dovizioso: Sepang is my favourite track

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