Lorenzo brilliant in Brno to go top of standings

There is a new leader in the MotoGP standings after Jorge Lorenzo clinched a superb win at the Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Jorge Lorenzo put on a riding masterclass to complete a brilliant pole-to-flag victory at the Czech Republic Grand Prix and move top of the MotoGP standings.

The Spaniard has been the man to beat all weekend in Brno and set a new lap record en route to taking pole position on Saturday.

It was a familiar story in Sunday's race, as the Movistar Yahama man showed excellent consistency and fluency on the bike to move clear of nearest challenger Marc Marquez.

He now joins team-mate Valentino Rossi – who finished third – on 111 points, but tops the riders' standings owing to a higher number of wins this season.

Lorenzo was quick off the line, but in the early stages Marquez stayed with him to draw comparisons of the last meet in Indianapolis, whereby the defending world champion usurped his compatriot with three laps remaining to win back-to-back races.

However, the Repsol Honda rider was seemingly taking more risks to maintain the pace and with 13 laps remaining Lorenzo had taken a lead of over a second and never looked back.

WHERE THE RACE WAS WON

Marquez had been on Lorenzo's tail for much of the early stages of the race, but saw him begin to pull away with 13 laps remaining and won the Czech Grand Prix for the first time since 2010.

OFF TO A FLYER

Lorenzo made a quick start, but Bradley Smith continued an impressive weekend by jumping from fifth to third off the line.

HOT LAP

Emphasising the battle at the front in the early stages, Marquez posted the fastest lap of the race on lap four with a time of one minute and 56.048 seconds.

RACE TO FORGET

Cal Crutchlow – a former lap record holder at Brno – has struggled for pace all weekend and a late crash at Turn 11 sees him drop to ninth below Pol Espargaro in the riders' standings.

RACE STAT TO REMEMBER

Lorenzo's triumph means that since 2002, there have been six wins apiece for Yamaha and Honda in the Czech Grand Prix.

IN THE POINTS

1. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) 42:53.042

2. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) +4.462s

3. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) +10.397s

4. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) +13.071s

5. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) +15.650s

6. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) +15.725s

7. Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha) +21.821s

8. Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha) +23.240s

9. Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki Ecstar) +43.784s