Jorge Lorenzo has recovered precious ground to fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa in the overall MotoGP World Championship standings after cruising to a third consecutive Italian Grand Prix victory at Mugello at the weekend.

Starting from second position on the grid, Yamaha’s Lorenzo picked off Honda’s Pedrosa at the opening bend and controlled the pace during the opening half of the race before stretching his advantage from the mid-way point of this fifth round of the championship.

Quickly multiplying his lead as Pedrosa struggled with grip issues, Lorenzo would cross the line more than five seconds clear of his key title rival to reduce the gap to his countryman to 12 points. A third Mugello win in-a-row for Lorenzo, the Yamaha rider was delighted with his faultless performance.

“The conditions and the circumstances were good for us and I didn’t make a mistake, I made my best performance even if the conditions were much hotter than this morning. We are still struggling so much when the conditions get hotter.

“Anyway the key of the race was in the middle where I improved my riding, I was able to brake later with less fuel in the tank so I was able to improve the lap time by two tenths, from this moment Dani gave up a little pace and I could get away and win the race, more or less like last year. It’s very special; I won the last three years here so this track is magic for me and very positive for Yamaha. It also reminds us to keep working on the bike as at the tracks which are not so flowing like Mugello we will struggle.”

Lorenzo also took time to pay tribute to Yamaha President Shigeto Kitagawa, who was attending Mugello ahead of his retirement.

“I’m very happy to give this win to Yamaha Motor Racing President Shigeto Kitagawa because this was his last race here in Grand Prix, as he will retire. He has done a great job for the team in the last years and it is a big loss for us. I hope he will enjoy the different life he will have.

“Our president Yanagi-san is also lucky for me, I won the 2010 Championship in Malaysia when he was there on the track and again today a victory with his presence.”

Result from Mugello:

1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 41m 39.733s
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 41m 45.133s
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 41m 46.145s
4. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 41m 59.054s
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 41m 59.273s
6. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP13) 42m 6.054s
7. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Team (GP13) 42m 17.877s
8. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 42m 19.535s
9. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 42m 19.976s
10. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 42m 28.125s
11. Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 42m 28.213s
12. Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT)* 42m 53.441s
13. Andrea Iannone ITA Energy T.I. Pramac Racing (GP13) 42m 54.334s
14. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 43m 0.982s
15. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (ART CRT) 43m 5.471s
16. Yonny Hernandez COL Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 43m 7.072s
17. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART CRT)* 43m 7.491s
18. Bryan Staring AUS Go&Fun Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 43m 24.157s
19. Lukas Pesek CZE Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT)* 43m 24.960s

DNF:
Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
Claudio Corti ITA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)*
Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)*
Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)
Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V)
* Standard ECU.

Photo courtesy Yamaha

Championship standings after round five: