Jorge Lorenzo makes it three MotoGP wins in a row with victory at Mugello

Jorge Lorenzo led from start to finish to secure a convincing victory in the Italian MotoGP at Mugello.

The Spaniard, who was second fastest in qualifying, pulled away from the field to cross the line more than five seconds clear of second placed Andrea Iannone.

A four-way battle for second, involving Iannone, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea  Dovizioso, which lasted for much of the middle part of the race, helped Lorenzo extend his advantage to beyond six seconds after 12 of 23 laps.

At one stage, the 28-year-old was more than eight seconds clear before slowing down to cross the line 5.563 seconds ahead of Iannone. 

Of the chasing pack, Dovizioso later pulled out, while two-time world champion Marquez slid off six laps from the end in Tuscany.

Marquez had made a thrilling start to the race, by moving from 13th on the grid to fifth by the end of the opening lap, and was then up to third early on lap two.

But the demise of Dovizioso and Marquez allowed championship leader Valentino Rossi to finish in third spot, which enabled him to retain his position at the top of the standings.

However, Lorenzo’s third straight win of the season moved the two-time former world champion to within six points of Rossi after six of 18 rounds.

Second placed Iannone, the surprise pole-setter on Saturday, held his nerve over the final few laps to finish 1.098s clear of his Italian compatriot Rossi.

Bradley Smith was top Brit in fifth – more than 15 seconds adrift of Lorenzo – while Cal Critchlow slid off three laps from the end while in fifth spot.

"I've won three races in a row before but now I want to make it four (two weeks time in Spain)," Lorenzo told the Spanish media. "Valentino is having an unbelievable season and he is always on the podium.

"Luckily for me today, Iannone stayed in front of him so it was four points more for me.

"It is going to be difficult to catch Valentino even though I have won three in a row but it is much better to be six points behind than 29.

"I just have to keep my feet on the ground, keep working. Yamaha will keep working and this could be our year, so we have to take advantage."

Meanwhile, world champion Esteve Rabat led a Kalex clean sweep in Moto2, to clinch his second triumph of the season – and 12th of his career.

The Spaniard edged out his French teammate Johann Zarco by 0.308s, with Britian’s Sam Lowes just missing out on a podium spot by finishing fourth – some five and a half seconds off the pace.

Lowes is also fourth in the overall standings, 42 points behind leader Zarco who is 31 ahead of Sunday’s winner Rabat.

And in Moto3, Briton Danny Kent finished second on a Honda, just 0.071s behind Portuguese winner Miguel Oliveira, to extend his lead in the overall standings.

Kent is now 46 points clear of Italian Enea Bastianini who is second in the table.

MotoGP Top 10:

1 Jorge Lorenzo (Esp) Yamaha one hour, 39.173 seconds

2 Andrea Iannone (Ita) Ducati + 5.563s

3 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha + 6.661

4 Dani Pedrosa (Esp) Honda + 9.978

5 Bradley Smith (Gbr) Yamaha + 15.284

6 Pol Espargaro (Esp) Yamaha + 15.665

7 Maverick Vinales (Esp) Suzuki + 23.805

8 Michele Pirro (Ita) Ducati + 29.152

9 Danilo Petrucci (Ita) Ducati + 32.008

10 Yonny Hernandez (Col) Ducati + 34.571

Standings (after 6 of 18 races):

1 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 118 pts

2 Jorge Lorenzo (Esp) Yamaha 112

3 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 83

4 Andrea Iannone (Ita) Ducati 81

5 Marc Marquez (Esp) Honda 69

6 Bradley Smith (Gbr) Yamaha 57

7 Cal Crutchlow (Gbr) Honda 47

8 Pol Espargaro (Esp) Yamaha 45

9 Maverick Vinales (Esp) Suzuki 36

10 Danilo Petrucci (Ita) Ducati 32