Yamaha Racing
Italy’s Valentino Rossi moved to the top of the MotoGP standings after claiming victory in French Grand Prix at Le Mans.
The Fiat Yamaha rider led home team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, who rode heroically to claim the second podium spot despite racing with fractured ankles - the legacy of a practice accident in Shanghai two weeks ago.
James Toseland failed to bring his Tech 3 Yamaha home after crashing out early in the race but the Briton’s team-mate Colin Edwards put in a sterling ride to take third.
The Italian rode hard amid a five-rider fight for the lead early on, but once he had passed Casey Stoner on the eighth lap, Rossi turned up the power and charged clear.
“It has been a long while since I won two races in a row, “ said Rossi, whose last back-to-back victories were two years ago. “It means we are back in business. We are now so strong and I’m back on top. “
James Toseland escaped injury when crashing out on the fourth lap duelling with Andrea Dovizioso. He said: “He went wide, I went for the inside, we came together and I went down. It’s disappointing, but I’ll get it together. “
