Spain's Jorge Lorenzo made it back-to-back race wins with a dominant victory in the French MotoGP which keeps the pressure on championship leader Valentino Rossi.
The Movistar Yamaha rider, who triumphed on home soil last time out, started from third position on the grid but quickly bypassed Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) before opening up a big lead and cruising to a vital win.
It was Lorenzo's first podium at Le Mans since his 2012 success, a result which sees him move second in the standings and to within 15 points of Rossi, who came in 3.820 seconds behind his team-mate.
"I saw Valentino in second place and he was very quick so I had to push at the maximum," Lorenzo told BT Sport 2.
"Another victory is very important for the championship so I'm very satisfied."
Dovizioso finished third ahead of two-time reigning MotoGP champion Marquez, while it was a mixed day for the Britons on show as Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha) came sixth after Cal Crutchlow (CWM-LCR Honda) and Scott Redding (Estrella Galicia) both crashed out.
Source: PA
