Rome: Spanish defending champion Jorge Lorenzo, riding a Yamaha, held off a strong Honda challenge to win the Italian MotoGP on Sunday.
Fresh from lowering the track record in qualifying at the Mugello circuit on Saturday, Australian Casey Stoner started on pole and led for the opening 17 laps of the 23-lap circuit.
But with six laps to go, Lorenzo took the lead with a sublime inside pass on Stoner, pinching the inside lane through a chicane with pinpoint deftness.
Stoner was then ambushed by Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso on the final lap, and had to be happy with third place on the podium.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, July 03, 2011, 20:37