Lorenzo Scores Magnificent Mugello Victory

Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo delivered his second consecutive Mugello masterclass today, repeating last year’s performance to take victory in the Grand Prix of Italy. Starting from second on the grid, Lorenzo was quick to pass pole man Dani Pedrosa and take the lead on the first lap. Although initially difficult to pull away, the Mallorcan put everything into his pace, dropping into the 1’47s to become unbeatable and gradually extend a lead to finish 5.223 seconds clear by the finish line. The win, his fifth this season, puts him on 185 points, 19 clear of Pedrosa in second.

Ben Spies’ run of bad luck continued today in Mugello, the Texan struck down with possible food poisoning on one of the hottest race days of the year so far. Despite experiencing physical sickness and dizzy spells he hung on to complete the race, taking five Championship points. He remains in tenth with a total of 66 points heading to his home race at Laguna Seca in two weeks time.

Jorge Lorenzo
[Position 1st - Time: 41'37.477
"From the beginning I felt great on this track, the asphalt was completely different to Sachsenring which was a nightmare for us. From the first practice here I felt very strong, very good on the bike and a fast constant pace. It was a pity that we had the problem in the last lap of qualifying but the important thing was the race. Today I was hammering a lot to open a gap at the beginning of the race as I thought my competitors would have problems on cold tyres. Unfortunately I couldn't do it immediately. Only hammering every lap and going faster and faster from 1'48.1 then into the 47s could I open a bit to Pedrosa then little by little it got better and I could start to breathe. It's been a great win for the whole team's efforts and for Yamaha who have given me such a good bike."

Ben Spies
[Position 11th - Time: +57.862
"I'm so disappointed, not just for me but for my whole team and Yamaha who have worked so hard this weekend. I was feeling really not right from before warm up this morning and it just got worse over the day. I was struggling to put three laps together at a time in the race and fighting waves of dizziness and trying not be physically sick in my helmet. Clinica Mobile did their best to help me before the race but it was a huge challenge to focus on the bike at the speeds we do."

**Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager **
"A fantastic weekend with a fantastic end result. Jorge was always the fastest except for qualifying with our little issue. The race was great; he had great pace and that made the difference. Dani had good pace but Jorge was more consistent and was able to break away step by step. A six second lead in this category is a good one!"

**Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director **
"Another weekend of highs and lows. A perfect race by Jorge, which we all expected, his pace was unbeatable all weekend and he really deserved the victory. I am very sorry for Ben and the team, they all worked hard this weekend and we were confident in a decent race pace for today. Unfortunately Ben was pretty ill from this morning onwards and honestly put in a huge effort just to finish the race. I am confident we will be back fighting in Laguna next week for his home race."

Dovizioso claims podium at magnificent Mugello

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Andrea Dovizioso produced a masterclass in aggressive riding under pressure to claim a richly deserved rostrum finish in front of his sun-drenched home crowd at the Mugello track this afternoon.

Dovizioso secured his fourth podium in the last five races to delight a passionate home crowd of nearly 65,000 fans after he came out on top of a fascinating battle with German Stefan Bradl. The Italian was in contention for the top three from the start of the 23-lap race after he rocketed from seventh on the grid to third at the first corner with a typically fast launch off the line.

He led Dani Pedrosa in second for the opening four laps before the Spaniard retaliated, which pitched Dovizioso into an epic battle with Bradl that went right down to the chequered flag. Bradl moved into third position on lap 10 but Dovizioso was determined to score a second successive MotoGP podium at Mugello and put the LCR rider under intense pressure until he pounced to take third back on lap 21.

Dovizioso used all his experience to fend off Bradl's challenge and his 61st Grand Prix podium was secured by just 0.046s after a tense run to the finish line.

British rider Cal Crutchlow was locked in a superb battle of his own throughout the race with home crowd favourite Valentino Rossi. At the halfway stage of the race the pair were six seconds behind Dovizioso and the podium battle but both showed stunning speed, spurring each other on to close down on the battle for third in the final stages.

Crutchlow could not have put Rossi under any more pressure but the Italian refused to buckle and an exciting last lap saw the 26-year-old brilliantly grab his seventh top six finish of the season after passing Nicky Hayden at the final corner. At the chequered flag Crutchlow was only 1.4s away from the podium after his tremendous tussle with Rossi.

Andrea Dovizioso
[Position 3rd - Time: +10.665
"To get a podium is always special but to do it in front of the Italian crowd and after such a strong battle makes it feel even better. I got the perfect start and was third at the first corner and I felt very strong in braking at the start so passed Dani at Turn 5. Immediately though I could see that Lorenzo was faster in some parts of the track, but it was good to see again the small points I need to improve to get the best out of the Yamaha. The fight with Bradl for the whole race was fantastic and he did a great job. When he passed me he was making it look easy and I was having to push right at the limit to make sure he couldn't open up a gap that I couldn't recover. He was trying for his first podium and I was pushing hard to be on the podium in Italy, so it made for a great battle. I knew I was a little bit stronger in the brakes than him so with three laps to go I decided to attack and I was confident I could hold him off. He didn't give up but I am so happy with another podium and I want to say a big thanks again to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew. We are working so well together and our results show it. After three podiums in a row now I am really looking forward to going to Laguna Seca."

Cal Crutchlow
[Position 5th - Time: +12.060
"My start and the first five laps pretty much decided my race because I got a terrible start. Once I found my pace I was pretty comfortable but I didn't have a very good feeling on a full fuel tank and that is something we need to work on. The battle with Valentino was fantastic and I learned a lot from him. His knowledge of this track is unrivalled and his consistency was awesome. I was faster than him in the final section but I was not close enough to pass him on the brakes and he had a fast bike down the straight. I did everything possible but he is incredible on the brakes and didn't give me a chance. But we came from way back to almost get in the fight for the podium and I am happy to have got Nicky on the last lap for the top six. I was really strong at the last corner and made a good move, and to finish 1.4s off the podium having come from so far back is a positive outcome. I also want to say congratulations to Andrea. He is doing a phenomenal job and to get three podiums in a row in this class is a great achievement. He did it in front of his home crowd too and it shows what an unbelievable job the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is doing in 2012."

**Hervé Poncharal - Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team Manager **

“That was another incredible weekend for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and to be on the podium in four of the last five races feels like we are dreaming. I have to give all the credit to Andrea, his crew and the Yamaha staff because together they are doing a fantastic job. These kind of results are very difficult to achieve but Andrea's success is giving us an incredible feeling. Andrea's start today was unreal and that was the key to him getting on the podium. He was close to the front at the start and then he got involved in a really exciting fight with Bradl and I think the Italian fans really enjoyed his performance. When Bradl passed him I wasn't worried because Andrea is a very intelligent rider and I was confident he was saving his tyres to attack again at the end. He did that but Bradl certainly didn't give up and Andrea showed nerves of steel at the end to get third. I'm also happy to see Cal back in the top six. The second half of the race from him was really impressive and he was fast and consistent and never giving Valentino a moment to relax. A better start might have put him in the battle for the podium because he came from way back to finish less than 1.5s behind Andrea. That shows Cal never gives up and both of them back in the top six means it is another great weekend for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team.”

| Mugello 15/07/2012| 23 Laps| | race I| | 1| Jorge Lorenzo| Yamaha| ESP| 41'37.477|
| 2| Daniel Pedrosa| Honda| ESP| 0'05.223|
| 3| Andrea Dovizioso| Yamaha| ITA| 0'10.665|
| 4| Stefan Bradl| Honda| GER| 0'10.771|
| 5| Valentino Rossi| Ducati| ITA| 0'11.695|
| 6| Cal Crutchlow| Yamaha| GBR| 0'12.060|
| 7| Nicky Hayden| Ducati| USA| 0'12.235|
| 8| Casey Stoner| Honda| AUS| 0'30.617|
| 9| Hector Barbera| Ducati| ESP| 0'31.728|
| 10| Alvaro Bautista| Honda| ESP| 0'34.589|
| 11| Ben Spies| Yamaha| USA| 0'57.862|
| 12| Randy De Puniet| ART| FRA| 0'59.963|
| 13| Aleix Espargaro| ART| ESP| 1'11.200|
| 14| James Ellison| ART| GBR| 1'11.458|
| 15| Mattia Pasini| ART| ITA| 1'11.828|

| Rider Standings| After Race 9 of 18| | 1| Jorge Lorenzo| Yamaha| ESP| 185|
| 2| Daniel Pedrosa| Honda| ESP| 166|
| 3| Casey Stoner| Honda| AUS| 148|
| 4| Andrea Dovizioso| Yamaha| ITA| 108|
| 5| Cal Crutchlow| Yamaha| GBR| 95|
| 6| Valentino Rossi| Ducati| ITA| 82|
| 7| Stefan Bradl| Honda| GER| 75|
| 8| Nicky Hayden| Ducati| USA| 74|
| 9| Alvaro Bautista| Honda| ESP| 73|
| 10| Ben Spies| Yamaha| USA| 66|
| 11| Hector Barbera| Ducati| ESP| 60|
| 12| Randy De Puniet| ART| FRA| 28|
| 13| Aleix Espargaro| ART| ESP| 26|
| 14| Michele Pirro| FTR| ITA| 16|
| 15| Mattia Pasini| ART| ITA| 13|
| 16| James Ellison| ART| GBR| 12|

Circuit Length:
5245
Temp:
25
Crowd:
65000
Weather:
Sunny
Lap Record:
1'47.705
(Daniel Pedrosa, 1/1/2012)
Fastest Lap Ever:
1'47.284
(Daniel Pedrosa, 6/4/2012)
Last Years Winner:
Jorge Lorenzo

| 15/07/2012| | 1| Yamaha| 201|
| 2| Honda| 196|
| 3| Ducati| 96|
| 4| ART| 41|
| 5| FTR| 16|
| 6| Ioda| 9|
| 7| BQR| 9|
| 8| Suter| 8|
| 9| BQR-FTR| 2|

| 15/07/2012| | 1| Repsol Honda Team| 314|
| 2| Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team| 251|
| 3| Monster Yamaha Tech3| 203|
| 4| Ducati Marlboro Team| 156|
| 5| San Carlo Honda Gresini| 89|
| 6| LCR Honda MotoGP| 75|
| 7| Pramac Racing Team| 60|
| 8| Power Electronics Aspar| 54|
| 9| Speed Master| 13|
| 10| Paul Bird Motorsport| 12|
| 11| Avintia Blusens| 11|
| 12| Came Ioda Racing Project| 9|
| 13| NGM Mobile Forward Racing| 8|
| 14| Cardion AB Motoracing| 4|