Motorsport: Lorenzo gets better of Rossi in Le Mans

JORGE Lorenzo beat Fiat Yamaha motorcycling team-mate Valentino Rossi to victory at the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France to extend his MotoGP Championship lead.

Lorenzo claimed his second win of the season in the third round at Le Mans and now lies nine points clear of Rossi atop the leaderboard.

Rossi, who began the race on pole, was second and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) was third. The Spaniard's success made it three out of three for Yamaha this season. Pole-position rider Rossi led into the first corner ahead of Dani Pedrosa and Lorenzo.

Up front Lorenzo took the lead ahead of Rossi on lap seven, only to relinquish it soon after. He went in front again on lap ten, however, and held on for victory.

In an intriguing battle for the final podium place, Dovizioso passed Pedrosa on the final lap and the Spaniard was later overtaken by Nicky Hayden to finish in fifth.

Lorenzo was thrilled after capitalising on Rossi's minor blip. "If this had happened to me three or four years ago, maybe I would have done some crazy thing," said the 23-year-old. "I now feel much more confident, now I can be more calm and ride better."