In the absence of injured team-mate and reigning world champion Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo stretched his lead in the FIM MotoGP world championship with an imposing win at Silverstone in England on Sunday.
 
Starting from pole position, the Spaniard rode his Yamaha to his third win of the season, finishing a comfortable 6,7 seconds ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Honda). Reigning Superbike world champion Ben Spies (Yamaha) was third, the American scoring his first podium finish of the season.
 
Dani Pedrosa (Honda) made his customary fast start and swapped the lead with compatriot Lorenzo a few times, with Randy de Puniet (Honda), Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden (Ducati) in closer attendance.
 
By lap seven Lorenzo was five seconds clear of an intense battle for second between Dovizioso and De Puniet, Pedrosa having dropped back to seventh ahead of Casey Stoner (Ducati).  Hayden was fourth and Spies fifth.
 
While the championship leader headed for an untroubled victory, the battle for the remaining podium positions was hotting up, with Hayden and Spies joining the Dovizioso/De Puniet show.  Hayden and Spies went past De Puniet with three laps remaining and the Frenchman found himself under pressure from Stoner.
 
A thrilling final lap saw Spies snatch third from Hayden, with Stoner passing De Puniet for fifth.  MotoGP rookie Marco Simoncelli (Honda) scored his best result of the season with seventh ahead of Pedrosa, Colin Edwards (Yamaha) and Aleix Espargaro (Premac).
 
Lorenzo now enjoys a 37-point advantage over Dovizioso (115-78) at the top of the championship log, with Pedrosa third on 73, Rossi fourth on 61, Hayden fifth with 52 and De Puniet sixth with 46.