MotoGP 2015 - Le Mans and Mugello

After his commanding victory in Jerez, Jorge Lorenzo stepped it up another gear, to take victories at both Le Mans and Mugello, making it three consecutive victories and launching himself right into the MotoGP title battle. After looking lost for the first part of the season, Lorenzo was back at his best.

Grand Prix of France

At Le Mans Lorenzo secured 3rd on the grid, but along with Andrea Dovizioso, launched himself ahead of pole sitter Marc Marquez, who ended up 4th after turn 3. Lorenzo, Dovi,Andrea Iannone and Valentino Rossi pulled away from Marquez, who was dropping back and ended up 7th behind Bradley Smith and Cal Crutchlow. Rossi meanwhile had fought his way up to 2nd place, after a great dice with the two Ducati's but he couldn't catch his team-mate.

As Rossi tried in vain to catch Lorenzo, Marquez was engaged in a thrilling battle with Bradly Smith and Iannone. Crutchlow had crashed out, and now Marquez found himself battling for 4th place. Iannone was riding injured, yet was putting up a great fight for best of the rest behind the top three, and would not relinquish the spot quickly. Marquez eventually got through, but the top three were now long gone, and it was to late to catch them.

It hadn't been a great day for the other Repsol Honda of Dani Pedrosa. After qualifying a heroic 8th after his arm pump surgery, Pedrosa then crashed out early on. He got back on the bike, but sadly only managed to finish 16th come the end of the race. Things would get better though in Mugello.

None of this had bothered Lorenzo though, who went on to take his 35th career MotoGP victory. It had been a dominant performance, and it would carry on to Mugello, Italy. Rossi's home ground...

Grand Prix of Italy

It was Iannone who took pole in Mugello, ahead of Lorenzo and Dovizioso, with Marquez an incredible 13th after failing to make it out of Q1 for the first time in his MotoGP career! At the start though he blasted his way up to the front, and by the end of lap 2 he was up to 2nd behind Lorenzo, who had fought past Iannone and then the other Ducati of Dovizioso, who had managed to lead the first lap.

Marquez though didn't have the pace of Lorenzo, and so began an epic battle between himself, Iannone and Dovizioso. The trio scrapped like mad over 2nd place, before Dovi dropped back, a crash in morning warm up perhaps having more of an effect than everyone had fought. This gave hope for the Italian crowd though, to see both Iannone and Rossi on the podium.

Rossi had qualified a disappointing 8th, but soon fought his way up to the front. Dispatching Dovizisoso was easy, but Dani Pedrosa put up more of a fight. Despite his arm pump surgery still giving him some grief, he was running in a brilliant 3rd place, and was the top Honda rider. Yes, top Honda rider! This was because just 5 laps from home, Marquez crashed out for the second time this season, something that has never happened before. He crashed out once in 2013, did not crash out at all in 2014 and now, just a few races into 2015, he has gone down twice. Not what people were expecting to see this year! 

Rossi however soon dispensed off him, and was up to 3rd place, to the great delight of the Italian crowd. Every race is a home race for Rossi, but Mugello of course is THE home race. The one they want to see him more than any other. He then set about chasing Iannone, but even fan power couldn't get him past 'The Maniac'.

Having taking pole position, whilst still injured, Iannone wasn't about to relinquish what could be the best finish of his MotoGP career. Rossi closed up to 'The Maniac' but could not get close enough. Ahead of the two Italians, Lorenzo crossed the line, and cut that championship lead of Rossi's even more, to just six points...

Jorge Lorenzo can now really start to believe that this could be his third World Championship. However, Marquez will fight back, and Rossi will not want to see his lead in the championship evaporate, and don't forget the underdogs of Dovizioso and Pedrosa. Who will take victory this weekend in Barcelona? Until next time folks. Ciao.