Jorge Lorenzo made history at Assen on Saturday when he won the sixth round of the FIM MotoGP championship at the famous Dutch circuit.  It was the Spaniard’s first premier class win at Assen, having won twice in the 250 cc and once in the 125 cc categories, and he joins an elite group of riders who have won in all three classes.  He also tightens his grip on the championship and has extended his lead over compatriot Dani Pedrosa to 47 points.

Lorenzo’s fourth win of the season on the factory Yamaha came after an exciting battle with Pedrosa (Honda), who finished three seconds in arrears.  Australian Casey Stoner was third on a works Ducati, ahead of Ben Spies (Yamaha), and the Hondas of Andrea Dovizioso and Randy de Puniet.  Lorenzo joins Jim Redman, Mike Hailwood, Valentino Rossi, Phil Read, Luigi Taveri and Dieter Braun in the record books as a rider who has won three or more classes at the Dutch TT.

The Spaniard’s next challenge is his home grand prix at Catalunya on Sunday, where he will be joined in the Fiat Yamaha team by Wataru Yoshikawa, subbing for the injured world champion Rossi.

His decision to go with the harder Bridgestone compound tyre (Pedrosa and Stoner chose the medium option) paid off and he overcame a strong early challenge from Pedrosa.  In the closing stages his tyres were going off and he had to work hard to control the sliding Yamaha, almost crashing at the chicane.

Lorenzo leads the championship with 140 points from Pedrosa (93), Dovizioso 89, Rossi and Nicky Hayden 61, and De Puniet 56.