Jorge Lorenzo claims back-to-back wins to close on Valentina Rossi
Last Updated: 18/05/15 10:05am
Jorge Lorenzo claimed back-to-back wins with a dominant victory in the French MotoGP to close on championship leader and team-mate Valentino Rossi.
Lorenzo followed up his victory at Jerez at the start of the month with his first podium at Le Mans since his 2012 success to move second in the standings.
The Spaniard started from third on the grid on his Yamaha but overtook Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and pole-sitter Marc Marquez at the first bend following a poor start from the Honda rider.
Lorenzo finished 3.820 seconds ahead of Rossi to cut the Italian’s lead to 15 points, while Dovizioso claimed third ahead of two-time defending champion Marquez.
"I saw Valentino in second place and he was very quick so I had to push at the maximum," Lorenzo told BT Sport 2.
"Another victory is very important for the championship so I'm very satisfied."
Bradley Smith finished sixth on his Monster Yamaha while fellow Britons Cal Crutchlow (CWM-LCR Honda) and Scott Redding (Estrella Galicia) both crashed out.
Result at Le Mans:
1 Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 43mins 44.143secs
2 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 43:47.963
3 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 43:56.523
4 Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 44:04.033
5 Andrea Iannone (Ita) Ducati 44:04.380
6 Bradley Smith (GB) Yamaha 44:05.288
7 Pol Espargaro (Spa) Yamaha 44:19.636
8 Yonny Hernandez (Col) Ducati 44:23.744
9 Maverick Vinales (Spa) Suzuki 44:25.714
10 Danilo Petrucci Ita) Ducati 44:26.932
World Championship Standings
1 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 102pts
2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 87
3 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 83
4 Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 69
5 Andrea Iannone (Ita) Ducati 61
6 Cal Crutchlow (GB) Honda 47
7 Bradley Smith (GB) Yamaha 46
8 Pol Espargaro (Spa) Yamaha 35
9 Aleix Espargaro (Spa) Suzuki 31
10 Maverick Vinales (Spa) Suzuki 27
Manufacturer:
1 Yamaha 116pts
2 Ducati 86
3 Honda 85
4 Suzuki 38
5 Forward Yamaha 6
6 Aprilia 3
