MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo dominates for home win at Jerez

Lorenzo wins by more than five seconds whilst Britain's Cal Crutchlow comes fourth

Jorge Lorenzo on his way to victory at Jerez (Getty Images)

MotoGP went to the first European round of the season in Jerez,Spain, and Jorge Lorenzo dominated on home turf to take 25 points.

Spanish compatriots Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez led qualifying with Italian on Italian Andrea Iannone completing the front row of the grid on his Desmosedici.

Lorenzo, who’s sitting third in the standings, was the only rider to lap within 1 minute 37 seconds, breaking the circuit record.

Team-mate Valentino Rossi, who qualified in fifth, said he is the man to beat.

"He’s the guy with more pace," said Rossi. "He usually starts well, he will try to escape. I will try to make a good start and stay close to Jorge."

When the lights went out Lorenzo bolted from pole position to the first corner and led the race immediately with Marquez in second place.

Iannone fell back into the pack with a slow start leaving Pol Espargaro, Rossi and Brit rider Cal Crutchlow to battle for the top three position. Within three laps, Rossi was ahead of espargaro and began to chase down defending World Champion Marquez.

Each lap Rossi was shaving 0.01 seconds from the gap on Marquez, but with four laps left to go, the gap lengthened once again, from 1.2 to 2.5 seconds over the last few laps.

Back at the front, Lorenzo comfortably sailed past the finishing line 5.576 seconds ahead of Marquez, whilst Rossi took third.

LCR-Honda’s Crutchlow crossed the line in fourth place ahead of Yamaha Tech 3’s Espargaro and the first Ducati across the line in sixth place Iannone.

The next round will take place in two weeks time from Le Mans on 17th May.