46 | Valentino Rossi

Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo fought hard today to secure himself third place in qualifying and a front row start for tomorrow's Grand Prix of Germany. The Yamaha Factory Racing rider was the fastest man on track in the morning's final free practice, setting an impressive 1'22.112 to top the time sheets. The afternoon qualifying heat saw him again quick onto the pace, again fastest man on track mid way through the session.

Day one of the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring circuit started with an incident fuelled free practice this morning as four riders crashed out on turn 11 of the twisty circuit. Yamaha Factory Racing riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies managed to avoid the mayhem and spent the morning getting reacquainted with the track.

Lorenzo picked up speed quickly in the morning session, rising to second midway and holding in the top three for the duration of the heat.

With two consecutive Grand Prix wins under their belts, Yamaha Factory Racing are preparing for The Grand Prix of Germany at the Sachsenring circuit this weekend in confident mood. A superb victory at the Assen TT for Ben Spies followed by a flawless ride by Jorge Lorenzo to claim the chequered flag at Mugello has left the team and riders eager to get straight to business in Germany.

In 2002 Phil Read was granted the status of 'MotoGP Legend' by Dorna. To Yamaha he has carried this distinction for numerous decades and will be forever recognised in Iwata and by Yamaha racing fans across the globe as the very first rider to capture world championship success for the company. Read operated on the international stage in an era when motorcycle racing was making important technological evolution and in a time when true stars were being created on the track.

Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo delivered an incredible performance this afternoon, taking a hard fought victory at Mugello to claim the Grand Prix of Italy, the second consecutive GP win for Yamaha this season. The Yamaha Factory Racing rider was quick to get his YZR-M1 off the start line, jumping from fifth on the grid to tuck in behind race leader Casey Stoner on the first corner. Stoner went on to build an early lead while Lorenzo engaged in a battle with Andrea Dovizioso for second.

Yamaha Factory Racing rider Ben Spies took second place in today's qualifying session at Mugello for the Grand Prix of Italy tomorrow. The Assen Grand Prix race winner took advantage of limited dry time at the beginning of the session to put in his fastest time on his tenth lap and final full lap of the heat. Spies then sat out the rest of the session, safe in the knowledge his grid position could not be beaten in wet conditions.

The Grand Prix of Italy at Mugello began well for Yamaha Factory riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies this morning with a promising first free practice session. Both riders were quickly up to pace on what is a newly resurfaced track, swapping places within the top four. The session wrapped up with Lorenzo in fourth just 0.264 from provisional pole and team mate Spies just behind in fifth, 0.377 from the front.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team head straight to Mugello this week in optimistic mood after a text book maiden MotoGP victory by rider Ben Spies and an impressive ride by Jorge Lorenzo at last weekend's 81st Assen TT. The back to back races offer an opportunity for the riders to pick up quickly where they left off in The Netherlands where they celebrated the first of the year's 50th Anniversary of Grand Prix racing events. The Tuscan circuit is just two hours drive from the team's headquarters near Milan so forms an honorary home race for the team.