Michael Laverty secures 18th at San Marino MotoGP round

Toomebridge rider Michael Laverty finished in 18th position in the latest round of the MotoGP series at Misano.

The Paul Bird Motorsport CRT pilot was the last of the finishers at the San Marino event, coming in one minute and 37 seconds behind winner Jorge Lorenzo.

The Yamaha rider won from championship leader and pole sitter Marc Marquez, with another Spaniard Dani Pedrosa in third, the latter two aboard Hondas.

Five races remain, the next to be held at Aragon in Spain on 29 September.

Laverty's team-mate Yonni Hernandez retired from the race and has moved to replace Ben Spies at Ignite Ducati for the remainder of the season.

The switch will allow Laverty the chance to get back on the ART frame he last used at the Sepang MotoGP test at the start of the year to see how far it has progressed in the hands of former team-mate Hernandez.

Marquez's lead at the top of the championship is now cut to 34 points, with Lorenzo moving into second overall, level on point with Pedrosa.