JEREZ: Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo savoured his first MotoGP victory of the season on Sunday with a pole-to-flag victory in his home Spanish Grand Prix ahead of reigning world champion Marc Marquez.

The two-time former champion had a good start from pole position and steered his Yamaha unchallenged through the 27 laps of the 4.4km (2.75-mile) Jerez Circuit before winning in 44 minutes, 57.246 seconds.

“All weekend has been perfect,” Lorenzo said. “I was fast everywhere on the track.”

Marquez, riding with a fractured little finger after a training accident, finished 5.576 seconds behind after keeping his Honda in second place all the way behind his fellow Spaniard and holding off a challenge from Lorenzo’s Italian team-mate Valentino Rossi.

“Yes it definitely was tough, not so much my finger but because I felt great pain in my right arm,” said Marquez. “At one point I couldn’t move my fingers so to be second here is important. “

Rossi made MotoGP history with his 200th podium finish and also extended his championship lead to 15 points over compatriot Andrea Dovizioso. Rossi now has 82 points, with Dovizioso on 67 and Lorenzo on 62. Marquez is fourth with 56.

Lorenzo’s fifth win in Jerez across all classes came after he set a lap record in qualifying for Yamaha’s first pole of the season. The Spaniard made a strong start, with Marquez close behind.

He had a lead of more than two seconds after 10 laps while Rossi trailed Marquez by almost three but the Italian gradually closed the gap.

By the 18th lap, it looked as though there could be a repeat of the last race in Argentina where Rossi caught Marquez late on but this time the Spaniard responded and pulled away.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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