Jorge Lorenzo revitalised his MotoGP title bid by dominating the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

The Yamaha rider had been quickest in three of the first three practice sessions, took a straightforward pole, and carried that commanding form into the race.

Lorenzo fended off Marc Marquez through the opening laps and then had little trouble extending a four-second lead that he nursed to the finish to earn a first win since last October’s Japanese GP.

Despite needing surgery on a fractured finger following a motocross crash just eight days ago, Marquez was able to claim second for Honda.

Valentino Rossi picked his way through to third but could not catch Marquez, although the result still gave him a record 200th podium at grand prix level.

Cal Crutchlow emerged from an early battle with Pol Espargaro to claim fourth for LCR Honda.

Ducati expected Jerez to be a tough circuit and its factory riders made life harder for themselves with mistakes.

Andrea Iannone tumbled down the order with a poor start from the front row, while Andrea Dovizioso ended up last when he slid through the gravel on lap one.

Iannone recovered to sixth, catching Espargaro at the end, and Dovizioso battled back to ninth.

Aleix Espargaro resisted pressure from Bradley Smith to take seventh for Suzuki.

The best battle of the race was a five-way scrap between the Pramac Ducatis of Danilo Petrucci and Yonny Hernandez, Maverick Vinales’ Suzuki, Scott Redding’s Marc VDS Honda and Hector Barbera’s Avintia Ducati for 10th.

Hernandez fought his way to the front of the queue by the end to complete the top 10.

RESULTS – 27 LAPS:

POINTS

Lorenzo cruises to Jerez MotoGP victory