Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo ran away from the rest of a weakened field at Silverstone, extending his lead atop the championship.

Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso finished second while rookie Ben Spies (Yamaha) took his first ever podium in MotoGP. Ducati riders Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner, who had a difficult start, completed the top 5, crossing the finish line only meters apart.

Pole sitter Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa (Honda) battled it out in the first corners and the Hondaman took the lead, only to lose it a few yards later. Pedrosa tried again in a high speed corner, but ran wide and let both Randy de Puniet (Honda) and his factory Honda team-mate Dovizioso through.

After that short duel, Lorenzo took off to an eight-second lead while Pedrosa gradually faded away. De Puniet held on to second place, then third when Hayden passed him with only four laps to go, before dropping through the field with a mechanical problem in the last laps, while Ben Spies was forcing his way past Hayden and onto the podium.

As at the previous race, the absence of Valentino Rossi left a void at the front of the grid, confirming his importance to MotoGP, and demonstrating why F1 is working hard to steal him away. Meanwhile, Rossi declared in a bedside interview that he is planning a return to two wheelers, but considering all his options for 2011, and that he has discovered “How much I like pain killer drugs.” Ever the clown!

MotoGP British Grand Prix Results
Pos Rider Team Time/Gap
1. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 41m34.083s
2. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 6.743s
3. Ben Spies Yamaha + 7.097s
4. Nicky Hayden Ducati + 7.314s
5. Casey Stoner Ducati + 7.494s
6. Etc.....

MotoGP Standings – After 5 of 18 rounds
Pos. Rider Points
1. Jorge Lorenzo 115
2. Andrea Dovizioso 78
3. Dani Pedrosa 73
4. Valentino Rossi 61
5. Nicky Hayden 52

Pos. Pilote Points
1. Jorge Lorenzo 115
2. Andrea Dovizioso 78
3. Dani Pedrosa 73
4. Valentino Rossi 61
5. Nicky Hayden 52