MotoGP: Lorenzo keeps heat on Pedrosa after his 'cat and mouse' victory

Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo trimmed the gap to championship leader and compatriot Dani Pedrosa at the top of the standings to seven points when he stormed to victory at a sweltering Catalunya Grand Prix yesterday.

British rider Cal Crutchlow, searching for his third successive podium, saw any hopes disappear when he crashed out on the sixth lap. Pedrosa's Honda team-mate Marc Marquez finished third. "It was extremely hot and the tyres lost a lot of performance but the start was crucial and I got a better start than I expected and was able to get past Dani [Pedrosa] at the first corner," Lorenzo said.

"It was a bit like cat and mouse but towards the end I was able to push a bit harder and I was able to win such a tough and physically challenging race."