MotoGP: Lorenzo wins in Italy

It was a tough day at the office for Casey Stoner at the weekend's race in Mugello, Italy, finishing in eighth place as championship leader Jorge Lorenzo extended his lead with an emphatic win.

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa got the holeshot as he so often does at the start of the race, after qualifying in pole position, but Lorenzo rounded him in a matter of corners and led the race without incident.

"From the beginning I felt great on this track, the asphalt was completely different to Sachsenring which was a nightmare for us. From the first practice here I felt very strong, very good on the bike and a fast constant pace," said Lorenzo. "It’s been a great win for the whole team’s efforts and for Yamaha who have given me such a good bike."

Dani Pedrosa finished second and Andrea Dovizioso continued to show his talents with yet another podium finish, his fourth this year, and is now looking more and more likely to take Ben Spies factory seat at Yamaha next year -- as the American continues to struggle, finishing in 11th place after falling ill during the warm-up session.

"To get a podium is always special but to do it in front of the Italian crowd and after such a strong battle makes it feel even better," said Dovizioso. "I got the perfect start and was third at the first corner and I felt very strong in braking at the start so passed Dani at Turn 5. Immediately though I could see that Lorenzo was faster in some parts of the track, but it was good to see again the small points I need to improve to get the best out of the Yamaha."

Lorenzo's win puts him on 185pts, ahead of Pedrosa on 166 and Stoner on 148, and the Spaniard will be hard to catch if his current form continues. Stoner's dream of winning his penultimate MotoGP championship will be a tough slog.

Fourth place when to the 2011 Moto2 world champion, Stephan Bradl, which was a huge achievement for the Honda-riding rookie.

"It’s a fantastic feeling for me and the whole team," Bradl said. "Undoubtedly a podium finish would have been simply perfect but I am extremely happy about this great result on this track."

Fifth place went to Ducati rider Valentino Rossi in front of his adoring home crowd, a result that won't go unnoticed by Ducati's German owner, Audi.

"Overall, I think today was the best dry result of the year for Ducati, because Nicky (Hayden) had a great race as well," said Rossi. "We’re quite happy, as our pace was very good, especially toward the end. Unfortunately, I lost time at the beginning."

Indeed, Hayden almost scored a podium, passing Bradl for fourth in the closing laps on his Ducati race bike and looking fast enough to take third spot from Dovizioso, but Bradl stormed back with a move that was labelled by some as 'dangeous' and knocked into Hayden, who had to settle for seventh.

"I got a good start," said Hayden, "but I was spinning a lot in the beginning, and I thought I was going to destroy the tyre. Once I went to a smoother map, I was able to really start driving off the corners and bringing the group back. Those last seven, eight laps, I really gave it everything; I wasn’t sure I was going to finish, but I was sure I was going to go for it.

"On the last lap, after I went by Bradl for fourth, I was only thinking about trying to pass ‘Dovi’ and get the Ducati on the podium, so I don’t regret the fact that I tried."

Bradl responded to criticisms that his overtake of Hayden was heavy-handed.

"Hayden put in a brave move on me but he didn’t have the best exit on the right corner and I could pass him again," he said. "Probably my manoeuvre looked a bit aggressive on TV but I think it was normal for a last lap."

Cal Cruthlow (Yamaha) finished sixth, Hayden seventh and Stoner had to settle for eighth place after ploughing into the gravel.

"It's definitely not the way we planned it," said Stoner. "We thought today we could be fighting for the podium and maybe have the pace to stay with Dani. Jorge has ridden fantastically all weekend and hasn't really put a foot wrong but I think a third position would have been good today. However, we just couldn't get the bike working. During our last attempts in warm-up we couldn't get anything to work, we weren't very happy with the bike today and I just didn't feel comfortable."

Hector Barbera (Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (Honda) finished ninth and 10th respectively.

Of the other Australians, Anthony West (Moriwaki) was the final rider home in Moto2, while Jack Miller (Honda) was 21st in the Moto3 race that Arthur Sissis (KTM) failed to finish.

Round 10 heads to the US of A from July 27-29, for one of the most watchable races of the season at the legendary Laguna Seca Raceway.

For full results and standings in all three classes, visit www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics.