Podium maintains Lorenzo momentum at the top

Jorge Lorenzo cited a lack of pace on his Fiat Yamaha M1 machine after taking second place at the Gran Premio d’Italia TIM on Sunday, but was delighted to have taken his fourth straight podium of the 2010 campaign - a result that strengthened his place at the top of the World Championship standings.

Lorenzo has now taken 90 points from the 100 available (two wins, two second places) after his Mugello placement, a race in which he battled with Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso for the two remaining podium spots after Dani Pedrosa raced away to secure victory by a margin of 4.014s.

“Unfortunately my pace today wasn't as good as yesterday and I could only finish second; something happened and I couldn't ride in the same way but in the circumstances I am happy with my result,” said Lorenzo, who now leads the Championship by 25 points over Pedrosa.

“Dani had a perfect race today; he had an amazing pace and I don't know if I could have beaten him even if I had been as fast as yesterday! To take 90 points from 100 is great and I am leading the Championship, so I cannot ask for more. I need to make some improvements to my riding style and Yamaha needs to try to improve the power of the bike a bit so we have some things to work on, but I am confident about the next weeks.”

Going into the weekend Lorenzo’s closest rival in the standings was team-mate Valentino Rossi, but the Italian’s fractured right tibia in practice on Saturday ruled him out of the race and for an as-yet unknown number of forthcoming rounds.

Lorenzo paid tribute to Rossi before the race with a special t-shirt, and added: “It was very strange today without Valentino, I am so glad the fans honoured him so well. I wanted to win to dedicate the victory to him but that wasn't possible so all I can do is say ‘get well soon!”