Rossi, Lorenzo: Race pace comparison

Jorge Lorenzo's stunning form has seen him dominate the last three MotoGPs and close to within six points of team-mate and title leader Valentino Rossi.

As the charts below confirm, Lorenzo's standout strength relative to Rossi has been early race pace. The Spaniard having gained an average of 1.467-seconds over the Italian on the opening lap alone.

(Looking across all six races, Rossi has lost between 0.9-2.0s to Lorenzo on the opening lap with the exception of Texas, where Lorenzo's 2014 jump start perhaps made him cautious and Rossi was quicker).

Rossi has often feared such an early escape after qualifying at least one row behind Lorenzo at the past three rounds. But perhaps most surprising is that at Jerez and Mugello it took until 60% race distance for Rossi to reduce Lorenzo's lead for the first time. That cannot continue if Rossi is to halt Lorenzo's victory run.

Le Mans saw a closer battle, with the Yamaha riders evenly matched during the middle stages. However Lorenzo's lightening charge on the opening three laps again paid off, keeping him out of Rossi's reach.

The #99 has also been faster than Rossi at the end of two of the last three races. Rossi appears to have backed off at Jerez and Le Mans, where he faced no threat from behind. However it was Lorenzo who eased off at Mugello, without which he was on target to again finish over ten seconds ahead of the #46.

Rossi finished third at Jerez, second at Le Mans, then third again at Mugello.

Key:
Red lap marker = Lorenzo faster than Rossi.
Yellow lap marker = Rossi faster than Lorenzo

Mugello: 23 laps
Lorenzo's grid position: 2nd
Rossi's grid position: 8th

Lorenzo's first lap advantage over Rossi = 1.972s

Lorenzo first reaches 50% of his peak advantage: Lap 5
Rossi faster than Lorenzo for first time = Lap 14 (61% race distance)

Lorenzo's fastest lap of race = Lap 4 (1m 47.700s)
Rossi's fastest lap of race = Lap 21 (1m 48.173s)

Lorenzo's peak advantage over Rossi = 9.432s (Lap 18)
Lorenzo's final advantage over Rossi = 6.661s

Le Mans: 28 laps
Lorenzo's grid position: 3rd
Rossi's grid position: 7th

Lorenzo's first lap advantage over Rossi = 1.449s

Lorenzo first reaches 50% of his peak advantage: Lap 3
Rossi faster than Lorenzo for first time = Lap 4 (14% race distance)

Lorenzo's fastest lap of race = Lap 2 (1m 33.004s)
Rossi's fastest lap of race = Lap 4 (1m 32.879s)

Lorenzo's peak advantage over Rossi = 3.820s (Lap 28)
Lorenzo's final advantage over Rossi = 3.820s

Jerez: 27 laps
Lorenzo's grid position: 1st
Rossi's grid position: 5th

Lorenzo's first lap advantage over Rossi = 0.980s

Lorenzo first reaches 50% of his peak advantage: Lap 13
Rossi faster than Lorenzo for first time = Lap 16 (59% race distance)

Lorenzo's fastest lap of race = Lap 2 (1m 38.735s)
Rossi's fastest lap of race = Lap 2 (1m 39.186s)

Lorenzo's peak advantage over Rossi = 11.586s (Lap 27)
Lorenzo's final advantage over Rossi = 11.586s