Lorenzo takes Le Mans win – and second in the title chase

Jorge Lorenzo has taken second in the title from Andrea Dovizioso after powering to a controlling win at Le Mans, winning by nearly four seconds from teammate Valentino Rossi – who retains his spot at the top of the title chase.

Lorenzo made the move on Andrea Dovizioso on the opening chicane, pulling clear at the front and never looking back, despite a determined chase by Rossi once he picked his way past first Marc Marquez and then the Ducati duo of Andrea Iannone and Dovizioso.

However, it was a difficult race for the defending world champion Marquez, running wide a number of times, including in the first chicane after contact with Dovizioso, dropping as far back as seventh before eventually taking fourth off Iannone.

The race also saw a number of crashes, with his returning teammate Dani Pedrosa falling but remounting to finish outside the points, while both Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding failed to finish.