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MotoGP 2016: Round 7 - Catalunya Recap

Jorge Lorenzo receives the Iannone treatment as Valentino Rossi makes the title look interesting again.

By LiamPMcCausland
Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images

(NB: This is pretty basic, because there's bigger fish to fry this weekend than the result of three races.)

Valentino Rossi recovered from a slow start to take the win in the Catalan Grand Prix, as championship leader Jorge Lorenzo was crashed out of the race by yet another Andrea Iannone error.

After leading the early laps, Lorenzo found himself under pressure from initially the factory Honda of Marc Marquez (adorned with, then his team mate Rossi, who took the lead and left the others behind. Lorenzo then dropped off the pace entirely, dropping as low as sixth before being collected by another stupid mistake on the brakes by Iannone, bouncing the bike around before collecting the back end of Lorenzo, taking both men out of the race.

Rossi didn't have things all his own way though. After an early battle through a midfield that went past him at the start, he had a two-lap battle with Maverick Viñales, winning that before working his way past the Hondas, then Lorenzo, and away. But he couldn't escape, with Marquez following him through and keeping him honest throughout. Marquez had the lead with three laps to go, but Rossi took the lead back and Marquez's tyres gave up on him, the Spaniard settling for second. The two shared a handshake in Parc Ferme, finally putting Sepang to bed after months of childish squabbling.

Dani Pedrosa was fairly anonymous in third, with Viñales comfortable in fourth. Pol Espargaro took top indepenent bike in fifth. Credit to Alvaro Bautista, who managed to take eighth place on the Aprilia.

Johann Zarco took victory in Moto2, winning out a good battle with Alex Rins to take his second win in two races.

Brad Binder couldn't convert pole position into a victory in Moto3, finishing second to Jorge Navarro, the Spaniard claiming his first grand prix victory.

Championship standings will come in the coming days. Burnt Rubber will be a little different tomorrow.Jorge Lorenzo receives the Iannone treatment as Valentino Rossi makes the title look interesting again.