Moto GP, Catalunya

Jorge Lorenzo piled more pressure on championship leader Dani Pedrosa by winning the Catalunya Grand Prix with a largely untroubled win.

The win, added to victories in Qatar and Italy, moved Lorenzo to within seven point of his fellow Spaniard in his quest to retain the championship.

Starting third, behind Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow, Lorenzo had a great start and took the lead on the first lap holding off the factory Honda rider to record his third victory of the season.

Pole sitter Pedrosa, had set a new circuit record in qualifying to finish over six tenths faster than anyone else, but lost out on lap one to the defending world champion and had to fight off the feisty Marquez for second place.

20 year-old Spaniard Marc Marquez completed an all-Spanish podium after a close fight with teammate Dani Pedrosa, finishing less than one tenth behind having again pushed his team mate throughout the race. It might have been a different order on the podium, but Pedrosa rode a defensive race to keep his young team mate behind.

After finishing second and third in the last two races, Britain's Cal Crutchlow dropped to fourth from his second place grid position before he crashed out when the front got away from him, however it was a better day for youngster Bradley Smith, who recorded his best ever finish with sixth place, despite his bandaged left hand.

Italy's Valentino Rossi crossed the line in a lonely fourth, four seconds behind the battling Pedrosa and Marquez and over twenty seconds ahead of Stefan Bradl in fifth, and it was great to see him on the pace at last.

The Yamaha team had predicted that the bike would not perform well under hot track conditions, but the bike ran surprisingly well.

I didn't expect this victory, Lorenzo told broadcasters after the race. I knew the key was the start and not to let Dani get away but I did better than I expected at the start. It was very hard from then on but I kept pushing.

The MotoGP universe will return in two weeks' time at the Dutch TT.

Result

1. Jorge Lorenzo
2. Dani Pedrosa
3. Marc Marquez
4. Valentino Rossi
5. Stefan Bradl
6. Bradley Smith
7. Andrea Dovizioso
8. Aleix Espargaro
9. Colin Edwards
10. Michele Pirro

Others
DNF. Cal Crutchlow
DNF. Nicky Hayden
DNF. Michael Laverty