Dovizioso tops Catalonia GP to tighten MotoGP title fight

MONTMELO, Spain: Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso tightened the MotoGP championship fight after winning the Catalonia Grand Prix from a seventh-place start on Sunday.

Dovizioso added the victory in Spain to his victory in Italy in the last race to give Ducati its first back-to-back race winner since Casey Stoner in 2010. It was Dovizioso’s fourth career win since his debut in 2008.

Points leader Maverick Vinales failed to make up ground from a ninth-place start, bringing his Yamaha across the finish line 10th — almost 25 seconds after Dovizioso.

Maverick’s lead in the standings was reduced to seven points ahead of Dovizioso after seven of 18 grand prix.

Defending champion Marc Marquez finished second at Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, more than three seconds behind, followed by Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, who started from pole position.

Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo faded from his second-place start to finish fourth, while Valentino Rossi was eighth.

In Moto2, Alex Marquez, Marc Marquez’s younger brother, won the race from pole position, ahead of Mattia Pasini and Thomas Luthi.

Leader Franco Morbidelli finished sixth, seeing his advantage over Luthi cut to seven points.

Joan Mir increased his lead of Moto3 after overtaking Romano Fenati and pole-starter Jorge Martin on the final lap. Mir leads Fenati by 45 points.