As it was highly expected Jorge Lorenzo ran away with today’s MotoGP race at Mugello to take his fifth victory of the season.
It took the Yamaha rider exactly one turn to take the lead and never give it up riding almost constantly under the 1.
48s and he even started waving to the crowds halfway through the last lap and he crossed the finish line with a 5.
223 second margin.
Dani Pedrosa tried his best to stay with Lorenzo, but he just didn’t have the pace to stay with him but he kept his second place in the standings as team mate Casey Stoner struggled all weekend long with tire problems.
The Australian decided to start the race with the extra hard tire was running in fifth, but he missed his braking mark and ran off track and rejoined in tenth and when he passed Alvaro Bautista for 9th he harshly pushed the Gresini rider wide at the Luco-Poggio Secco and touching the Spaniard’s leg and shoulder leaving some tire rubber on his leathers, Stoner finished the race in 8th.
The battle for third was highly entertaining between Andrea Dovizioso and Stefan Bradl.
The MotoGP rookie gave the vetran rider a ride for his money, the two exchanged the third spot several times, but with three laps to go Dovizioso put in his decisive pass at the San Donato that would in the end let him take the third spot on the podium.
The battle for fourth spot was also exciting as Bradl found himself with his hands full on the last lap with Nicky Hayden, Valentino Rossi (who came from 12th after the first lap) and Cal Crutchlow who caught him.
Hayden passed Bradl at the Luco, but the German returned the pass pushing the Ducati rider wide which let a pouncing Valentino Rossi through and then Cal Crutchlow caught and passed him on the next turn.
For Rossi it was his best result in the dry so far, while Hayden would end up a disappointing 7th.
Hector Barbera after his maiden front row start faded to 9th while Bautista ended up tenth.
Ben Spies had another horrid race.
The American was suffering from stomach pains and dizziness that started this morning and only on the last lap was able to overtake Randy de Puniet who was ahead of him for half the race distance.
MotoGP Mugello Race results:01- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – 23 laps in 41’37.
477 02- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 5.
223 03- Andrea Dovizioso – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 10.
665 04- Stefan Bradl – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC213V – + 10.
711 05- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 11.
695 06- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 12.
060 07- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 12.
235 08- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 30.
617 09- Hector Barbera – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 31.
728 10- Alvaro Bautista – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC213V – + 34.
589 11- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 57.
862 12- Randy De Puniet – Power Electronics Aspar – ART GP12 – + 59.
963 13- Aleix Espargaro – Power Electronics Aspar – ART GP12 – + 1’11.
200 14- James Ellison – Paul Bird Motorsport – ART GP12 – + 1’11.
458 15- Mattia Pasini – Speed Master Team – ART GP12 – + 1’11.
828 16- Ivan Silva – Avintia Blusens – BQR MotoGP – 1 lap