Jorge Lorenzo secures Spanish MotoGP as Valentino Rossi grabs third to become the first rider to clinch a 200th podium finish

• e-mail

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo led from start to finish to win the Spanish MotoGP, while Valentino Rossi came home third to become the first ever rider to clinch a 200th podium place.

Lorenzo started in pole position at the Circuit de Jerez and the Movistar Yamaha rider took the chequered flag in a time of 44 minutes 57.246 seconds to finish more than five seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

Two-time reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) had been a doubt for Sunday's race after breaking his finger in a training crash last week but crossed the line second in a time of 45:02.822.

Jorge Lorenzo celebrates in front of Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi after winning the Spanish Grand Prix

Rossi celebrates his third place on the podium during the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez de la Frontera

Seven-time world champion Rossi (45:08.832) finished third to become the first rider to claim 200 podium finishes and the Movistar Yamaha rider now enjoys a 15-point lead over Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso at the top of the championship standings.

LCR Honda's British rider Cal Crutchlow easily finished fourth ahead of fifth-placed Spaniard Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha), while Andrea Iannone (Ducati) won a hard-fought battle for sixth against Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki).

Crutchlow's countryman Bradley Smith rode his Yamaha home in eighth, while Dovizioso recovered from running wide twice in the early stages to finish ninth, and Yonny Hernandez (Pramac Racing) completed the top 10.

Lorenzo celebrates with his flag during a lap of the track following his victory in Spain