Lorenzo wins Australian MotoGP

PHILLIP ISLAND: Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo kept alive the race for the world championship with victory in a controversial Australian Moto GP at Phillip Island on Sunday.

The Yamaha rider pulled to within 18 points of Marc Marquez at the top of the championship with two races left after Marquez was sensationally black-flagged for ignoring a mandatory pit stop in the middle stages of the race.

The Australian MotoGP was shortened to 19 laps from a scheduled 26 laps amid safety concerns over Bridgestone tyres degrading on the new tarmac surface at the Phillip Island track.

Marquez's Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa was second, 6.936sec adrift of Lorenzo, with Yamaha's Valentino Rossi making the podium in third place.

The two races to come are at Motegi and Valencia. (AFP)