MotoGP, Rossi conquers Jerez to take win no. 113

He had a well defined strategy. To prevent Jorge Lorenzo from getting away in the opening laps. Valentino Rossi executed his plan perfectly, leading the pack from beginning to end. The Doctor's domination in Spain sees him score his first win of 2016. He wanted to make up for the disappointing Austin weekend, and has done so in the best possible way.

First pole position on Saturday, followed by the race win, his 113rd career victory: “It's been a perfect weekend – he declared - we started out on the right foot, and the bike was perfect. I'm really pleased because we were missing a win.”

In second position, Lorenzo makes it a 1-2 for Yamaha. This time he was missing that extra something at the start which meant he had to settle for second, despite managing to reduce the gap over the last ten laps: “I didn't have a very fast pace this time – he explained - mid-race I was managing to maintain the gap but unfortunately in the final stages the bike began to slide along the straight, it was like riding in the wet. It's a pity because I could have caught Rossi and perhaps won”.

Marc Marquez rounds out the podium: “Right from the start I knew the feeling would be different to yesterday. When I realised the bike was sliding I preferred to settle and hold on to the championship lead”.

In doing so, the Honda rider continues to lead the way in the standings, with 82 points, followed by Lorenzo on 65, Rossi with 58 and Pedrosa, 40. The latter closed the race fourth, in front of the Suzukis of Espargarò and Vinales. A race to forget for Dovizioso, forced to retire due to an apparent tyre problem.

Rossi torna quindi sul gradino più alto del podio dopo Silverstone, seguito da Lorenzo e Marquez. In quarta posizione Pedrosa precede Aleix Espargarò e Maverick Vinales con Andrea Iannone settimo. Nella top ten anche Pol Espargarò, Laverty e Barbera.