MotoGP 2015, France, Le Mans: Jorge Lorenzo leads Yamaha one-two, results

JORGE Lorenzo has led home a Yamaha one-two finish at the French Grand Prix as Marc Marquez struggled to a distant fourth.

Winner Spain's Jorge Lorenzo (R) (Movistar Yamaha MOTOGP N°99) and second-placed Italy's Valentino Rossi (L) (Movistar Yamaha MOTOGP N°46) celebrate with Yamaha's Japanese technical director Tsuji Kouichiand after the MotoGP race of the French motorcycling Grand Prix on May 17, 2015 in Le Mans, western France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER

JORGE Lorenzo won his second successive MotoGP on Sunday when he took the French race for the fifth time in his career at the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans.

The 28-year-old coasted home ahead of Yamaha team-mate and championship leader Valentino Rossi, who was recording his ninth successive podium finish.

This was Lorenzo’s first podium at Le Mans since 2012.

“I had a very good start and then had a hard duel with Andrea,” said Lorenzo, winning the 56th Grand Prix of his career.

“When I saw Valentino was in second place I knew he was very quick so I had to burn him off which I managed.

“This win is very important for the championship,” added Lorenzo, whose last title triumph came in 2012.

RESULTS: CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS FROM THE FRENCH GP

Rossi’s Italian compatriot Andrea Dovizioso took a fine third on a Ducati for his fourth podium finish in the five races thus far this season.

Rossi, bidding for a 10th world title, is on 102 points and leads Lorenzo by 15 points with Dovizioso third on 83.

Two-time defending champion Marc Marquez fell further behind Rossi in the title race as he finished fourth, only just getting the better of a thrilling battle with Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, who was riding with a dislocated shoulder.

Marquez picks up the bike as he is squeezed wide by Lorenzo and Iannone.

Apart from getting a good start, Marquez appeared to struggle for the rest of the race. He was bumped wide by Iannone and Lorenzo into the opening corner ran before briefly taking the lead at the chicane, but he had braked too deep and ran wide, falling down to fourth. A second slip-up a few laps later at Garage Vert dropped him down to sixth.

The reigning world champion looked powerless to recover, struggling with a Honda that wasn’t suited to race day’s hotter track conditions.

“Today the temperature rose sharply; we had not ridden in such conditions at any time this the weekend,” Marquez said.

“On the fourth lap I started to notice that I had a lot of problems with the front end. I think all the Hondas had the same trouble; in fact a lot crashed after losing front grip because we were really suffering.

“We must learn from this race and especially from the data we have gathered.”

Marquez now trails Rossi by 33 points.

Rossi leading Dovizioso late in the race.

Rossi, who had started a lowly seventh on the grid, was delighted that taking a gamble on tinkering with the bike had paid off.

“I am feeling good, as the gamble paid off,” said the 36-year-old. “I still had a lot to do coming from that spot on the grid but we had great speed thanks to the changes we made to the bike.

“However, Jorge was too quick for me. Still it is a very great result for the championship. It was a solid ride,” he added.

Dovizioso said that a lack of grip on his front tyre had eventually been the decisive factor in his challenge petering out leaving Ducati still without a win in the race.

“However, the consolation is a return to the podium which is very important for the morale and the championship,” said Dovizioso.

Marquez got off to a terrible start being pushed out wide on the first turn by Iannone and fell from pole to fourth spot with Lorenzo assuming the lead followed by Dovizioso.

Rossi by contrast made a great start and overtook Marquez with two laps gone to move into fourth.

Pedrosa crashed in the early laps.

Marquez’ team-mate Dani Pedrosa had made the worst possible return to action after recovering from surgery on an injured forearm when he came to grief on the second lap although he rejoined the action.

Pedrosa was not the only rider to come off their bikes as Scott Redding and Stefan Bradl saw their races end early on - Redding’s fellow Briton Cal Crutchlow also came down just as he sized up a challenge to Marquez for sixth spot.

In fact, Marquez was the only factory-spec Honda rider not to crash during the race.

The front four of Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Iannone and Rossi opened up a gap on the rest led by Bradley Smith of four seconds with eight laps gone.

Rossi produced a superb overtaking manoeuvre on Iannone with 18 laps remaining and repelled a counter-attack by his compatriot earning rousing cheers from the stands and set off in pursuit of Dovizioso.

The indefatigable Italian maestro was past Dovizioso by the end of the 12th lap, as two more riders crashed out at this juncture, Czech Karel Abraham and Crutchlow’s team-mate Australian rookie Jack Miller, who won the Moto3 race here last year.

Miller was fighting Vinales for 11th when he went down.

Marquez looked to have jumped two places going out into the country with six laps remaining but Iannone showing admirable fortitude fought back to reclaim fourth spot but Smith, having looked the favourite to take fourth, dropped to sixth with Marquez sandwiched between them.

In the end it was to be the only positive note in the race for Marquez as he eventually got the better of Iannone and held on narrowly for what might prove to be invaluable points in the title race come season’s end.

Lorenzo picks up his “Lorenzo’s Land” celebratory flag.

Originally published as MotoGP 2015, France, Le Mans: Jorge Lorenzo leads Yamaha one-two, results