Lorenzo secures MotoGP title

VALENCIA, Spain (AP):

Jorge Lorenzo won his third MotoGP title with a victory at the season-ending Valencia GP yesterday as Valentino Rossi failed to make up enough ground on his Yamaha team-mate from the back of the grid.

Lorenzo entered the race trailing Rossi by seven points but the veteran Italian couldn't manage more than a fourth-place finish. Rossi, who needed second place to guarantee the title, started last on the grid because of a penalty for kicking Marc Marquez in the previous race.

Lorenzo finished with 330 points, five more than Rossi, who was trying to win his eighth world title and the first since 2009.

"I tried to focus to go as fast as possible," Lorenzo said. "I just wanted to keep my concentration and prayed to finish the race."

Lorenzo added to his MotoGP triumphs in 2010 and 2012, after wins in the 250cc category in 2006 and 2007. The 28-year-old Spaniard started from pole position and stayed in front at the Ricardo Tormo circuit outside Valencia. He grabbed Spain's flag and rode with it around the track in his victory lap.

"It was very emotional. I was crying throughout the victory lap," he said. "What we achieved today is huge after a very difficult season. Five times now. I'm very proud to have won this world title for Spain."

Marquez, the winner of the last two MotoGP championships, finished the race right behind Lorenzo in second, but never tried to make a significant move for the lead. Dani Pedrosa, winner of two of the last three races, was third to close out the all-Spanish podium.