Mugello MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo hails 'perfect' Dani Pedrosa

Jorge Lorenzo admitted he was well beaten by bitter Spanish rival Dani Pedrosa after a comprehensive defeat in yesterday’s Italian MotoGP race at Mugello.

Lorenzo was a comfortable pre-race favourite having impressed throughout the weekend on Bridgestone’s race rubber.

But he was powerless to prevent Pedrosa from romping to trademark runaway victory.

Lorenzo though comfortably dealt with an early challenge from Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso to maintain his 100 per cent podium record in 2010.

Lorenzo who donned a yellow VR46 T-shirt as a tribute to injured factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi, said: “I can only say that Dani’s race was perfect. Riding in 39.5 is an amazing pace and maybe today it was hard to beat him. But with my pace the only thing I could do is finish second. Sometimes I can’t ride the same as Saturday on Sunday and we have to solve this problem. But anyway if we can finish second in bad conditions it is always a good result.”

Lorenzo has only dropped ten points in the opening four races of the season but saw his series lead cut to 25-points by a rampant Pedrosa who led from start-to-finish in a somewhat dull 23-lap clash.

Lorenzo pleaded with Yamaha to find more power for its in-line four-cylinder YZR-M1 machine and he said: “For sure to have 90 points out of 100 is a lot so we must try and improve my riding style and Yamaha has to improve a bit the power of the bike.”

The 23-year-old also paid tribute to Rossi, who watched the race from his hospital bed in Florence as he starts the long recovery from a broken right leg suffered in Saturday’s practice session.

He added: “It was very strange today without Valentino. I am so glad the fans honoured him so well. I wanted to win to dedicate the victory to him but that wasn’t possible so all I can do is say ‘get well soon!’”

• For the full story read this week’s MCN out on Wednesday