Lorenzo takes an easy win as Rossi struggles again

Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo increased his MotoGP series lead over Casey Stoner to more than a race win after cruising to the win at Silverstone this lunchtime but it was disaster again for Valentino Rossi who could only finish in ninth after choosing the hard rear tyre while everyone else went for the soft option.

Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo increased his MotoGP series lead over Casey Stoner to more than a race win after cruising to the win at Silverstone this lunchtime but it was disaster again for Valentino Rossi who could only finish in ninth after choosing the hard rear tyre while everyone else went for the soft option.

Spaniard Lorenzo took 25 points when he passed reigning champion Stoner with nine laps left to run, got his head down and pulled a gap on the Australian who said after the race he was struggling with grip and chatter from the new Bridgestone front tyre.

The pair diced in the middle of the race and very nearly swapped paint a few times through the Northamptonshire track's Arena Complex before the Yamaha man disappeared into the distance, leaving Stoner to deal with team-mate Dani Pedrosa and pole man Alvaro Bautista.

Stoner managed to keep the pair behind him and Bautista scored his best finish of the season so far. After leading early on, Ben Spies slid down the order to finish in fifth, just ahead of the heroic Cal Crutchlow (click here for separate story) who passed Nicky Hayden on the final lap.

Stefan Bradl eventually got the better of Rossi for eighth with Hector Barbera rounding out the top ten. Aleix Esparago won the CRT battle, finishing ahead of team-mate Randy De Puniet.

Britain's James Ellison took two more championship points away from the race which made up for his closed-throttle highside in morning warm up. Colin Edwards was 16th.

By David Miller at Silverstone

Image by Bonnie Lane