Lorenzo wins San Marino GP

MISANO: Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo reignited his bid to defend the Moto GP world crown with victory in San Marino, the 13th leg of the 18-race championship, on Sunday.

Lorenzo, winning at the Misano circuit for the third successive season, finished ahead of championship leader Marc Marquez with Honda teammate and Spanish compatriot Dani Pedrosa in third.

Italy's seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi finished fourth on a Yamaha.

Lorenzo's 49th career win, and 28th in the sport's premier category, allowed him to pull level in the championship race with second-placed Pedrosa. Both now have a deficit of 34 points to Marquez with five races remaining.

A fortnight after claiming victory at Silverstone, he said it is crucial to be fighting in every event.

Lorenzo came to the Italian circuit hoping to make it three in a row and declaring he was fighting fit following a crash in June and subsequent surgery on a broken collarbone.

And he let Marquez know of his intentions from the outset, powering his Yamaha from second place on the grid behind his fellow Spaniard into first place on the opening lap.

From then on, Lorenzo led the race and steadily opened up a gap on Marquez and Pedrosa, who went on to engage in a thrilling battle for second place in the closing laps.

Marquez admitted he made mistakes "in the first part of the race", but after collecting 20 valuable points the Moto GP novice said the title fight is far from over. (AFP)