Spain’s two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo won his second successive MotoGP yesterday when he took the French race for the fifth time in his career at the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans.

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The 28-year-old coasted home ahead of Yamaha team-mate and championship leader Valentino Rossi, who was recording his ninth successive podium finish.

Rossi’s Italian compatriot Andrea Dovizioso took a fine third on a Ducati for his fourth podium finish in the five races so far this season.

Rossi, bidding for a 10th world title, is on 102 points and leads Lorenzo by 15 points with Dovizioso third on 83.

Two-time defending champion Marc Marquez fell further behind Rossi in the title race as he finished fourth, only just getting the better of Italy’s Andrea Iannone, who was riding with a dislocated shoulder. Marquez trails Rossi by 33 points. 

“I had a very good start and then had a hard duel with Andrea,” said Lorenzo, winning the 56th Grand Prix of his career.

“When I saw Valentino was in second place I knew he was very quick so I had to burn him off which I managed. This win is very important for the championship,” added Lorenzo, whose last title triumph came in 2012.

Rossi, who had started a lowly seventh on the grid, was delighted that taking a gamble on tinkering with the bike had paid off.

“I am feeling good, as the gamble paid off,” said the 36-year-old. “I still had a lot to do coming from that spot on the grid but we had great speed thanks to the changes we made to the bike.

“However, Jorge was too quick for me. Still it is a very great result for the championship. It was a solid ride.”

Dovizioso said a lack of grip on his front tyre had eventually been the decisive factor in his challenge petering out.

“The consolation is a return to the podium which is very important for the morale and the championship,” Dovizioso said.

Marquez got off to a terrible start being pushed out wide on the first turn by Iannone and fell from pole to fourth spot with Lorenzo assuming the lead followed by Dovizioso.

Rossi, by contrast, made a great start and overtook Marquez with two laps gone to move into fourth. Marquez’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa made the worst possible return to action after recovering from surgery on an injured forearm when he came to grief on the second lap although he rejoined the action.

The front four of Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Iannone and Rossi opened up a gap on the rest led by Bradley Smith of four seconds with eight laps gone.

Rossi overtook Iannone with 18 laps remaining and set off in pursuit of Dovizioso, going past him by the 12th lap. Marquez looked to have jumped two places with six laps remaining but Iannone fought back to reclaim fourth spot.

Marquez, though, eventually got the better of Iannone and held on narrowly for what might prove to be invaluable points in the title race come season’s end.