MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo secures third successive win

Jorge Lorenzo is second in the world championship standings

Jorge Lorenzo secured his third successive MotoGP win with victory at Mugello to boost his world title hopes.

The 28-year-old two-time world champion beat pole sitter Andrea Iannone and championship leader Valentino Rossi, who finished third.

Defending champion Marc Marquez, fourth in the standings, crashed with six laps remaining.

Britain's Cal Crutchlow also failed to finish, crashing out from fifth with three laps to go.

Lorenzo is now six points behind Rossi in the championship standings.

"I've been in this form in the past," said Lorenzo. "I've won three races in a row before but now I want to make it four [Catalunya in a fortnight]."

The Spaniard dominated from the outset, moving into the lead on the first lap and powering ahead of rivals, at times lapping over a second quicker than anyone else.

Marquez had battled superbly to climb from 13th to third but his late crash provided a huge dent to his title hopes.

He is fifth in the standings, 49 points behind leader Rossi.