Moto GP: Pedrosa victorious at Jerez as frustrated Lorenzo settles for third

Dani Pedrosa won his first title of the MotoGP season after taking the pole position from defending champion Jorge Lorenzo with an inside move on the 5^th lap of the race and held off the challenge for the remaining 27 lapses to claim all 25 points for Honda.

“Jorge started fast, and I just tried to keep up with him first,” said the Italian. “Later I saw I had better pace and after I passed him I just focused on protecting my tires.”

Lorenzo suffered a further disappointment as his countryman Marquez overtook him on the final lap of the race with a controversial move that caused a bump between the two bikes and forced Lorenzo off the track.

Marquez, who won the previous race at Austin, Texas made sure to increase his lead over Pedrosa and Lorenzo by crossing the checked line just 3 seconds behind the winner.

The 20-year old attempted to apologise to Lorenzo after the race, however the defending champion snubbed the youngster and exclaimed: “I prefer not to talk about what happened on the last curve because I am still angry.”

“I went to apologise to Jorge,” said Marquez, “I think it has been one of [those] things that happens in a race. The positive thing is neither of us fell,” he concluded.

Marquez leads the standings with 61 points, 3 ahead of Pedrosa and four of Lorenzo.

Valentino Rossi crossed the line fourth followed by Cal Cluthlow of Britain. Alvaro Bautista was sixth, Nicky Hayden seventh then Andrea Dovizioso with Aleix Espargaro and Brandley Smith finishing the top ten.

Umida Ibrahimova, sports correspondent