MANILA, Philippines -- Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo took a hard-fought victory in Mugello, Italy last Sunday after battling it out with the dominant Hondas of Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso.  The Mugello victory is Yamaha’s second consecutive MotoGP win for the season.

Lorenzo was quick to get his YZR-M1 off the start line, jumping from fifth on the grid to tuck in behind race leader Stoner on the first corner. Stoner went on to build an early lead while Lorenzo engaged in a battle with Dovizioso for second. Having finally dispatched him after four laps, the Mallorcan began the hunt for Stoner.

Lorenzo delivered a series of perfect laps to catch and then pass the race leader before extending a lead of just under a second to the line.

Ben Spies spent the Mugello race locked into a battle with Marco Simoncelli for fourth place. The American rider had opted for a slightly different set up to that used during the practice sessions and struggled to gain the same performance for the race.

Having swapped places with Simoncelli several times, Spies then waited to make his move, passing the Italian on the final lap to take fourth place in the sweltering Tuscan sunshine.

Lorenzo now heads to Sachsenring for the Grand Prix of Germany next week having reduced the gap to Championship leader Stoner to 19 points with a total of 133. Team mate Spies jumps another place up in the standings to sixth, just 13 behind Valentino Rossi in fourth.

“The ‘martillo’ (hammer) is back!” said Lorenzo after the race. “For a long time it has been one of the sweetest victories. The victory in Jerez was not ‘real’ because it was raining.”

“Now we have a competitive bike and I hope to keep this pace. Now I am more motivated and confident for the future, after this result. I think it was one of my most demanding races in my career. It reminded me a bit the 125cc times, with many overtakings. I did a good start again and now I just want to watch the race again on TV,” Lorenzo added.