Spanish defending champion Jorge Lorenzo, riding a Yamaha, held off a strong Honda challenge to win the Italian MotoGP on Sunday, his second victory of the season. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/jul/lorenzo.jpg" border="5" /> Jorge Lorenzo PIC/AFP Fresh from lowering the track record in qualifying at the Mugello circuit on Saturday, Australian Casey Stoner started on pole and led for the opening 17 laps of the 23-lap race. But with six laps to go, Lorenzo took the lead with a sublime inside pass on Stoner, pinching the inside lane through a steep, downhill chicane with pinpoint deftness. "I'm so happy," Lorenzo told BBC. "Casey was so quick but little by little, lap by lap I managed to catch him. I saw the opportunity (to take Stoner) on the downhill." The victory lifts Lorenzo (133 points) to within 19 of leader Stoner (152) in the championship standings. Stoner was then ambushed by Andrea Dovizioso on the final lap, and had to be happy with third place. "I did everything I could," said Stoner, who blamed hot conditions for playing havoc with his tyre grip that slowed his pace at the end.

Spanish defending champion Jorge Lorenzo, riding a Yamaha, held off a strong Honda challenge to win the Italian MotoGP on Sunday, his second victory of the season

Lorenzo wins Italian GP, closes in on Stoner's lead

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Lorenzo wins Italian GP, closes in on Stoner's lead

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