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Esports News: Lorenzo wins on Virtual GP debut at Silverstone

Three-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo recovered from a lap one tangle to win on his Virtual GP debut at Silverstone

The Yamaha test rider, who retired from MotoGP after a difficult season with Honda prior to rejoining the marque with which he won each of his world championships, bagged pole position and grabbed the holeshot off the line, holding onto the lead after taking a heavy whack from second-placed starter Fabio Quartararo.

However, Lorenzo's race would be turned on its head on the run into the Maggotts/Becketts complex when LCR Honda's Takaaki Nakagami wiped him out.

Nakagami then took over at the front, with Quartararo on the SRT Yamaha giving chase before he fell off at the Vale.

This released Pramac's Francesco Bagnaia into second, though the Virtual Mugello race winner also crashed moments later at the Loop, which allowed Nakagami to open up a lead of well over a second.

Nakagami's lead touched two seconds at one stage, while Avintia's Tito Rabat (pictured below) held second from a recovering Quartararo.

The SRT rider quickly reeled in Rabat, but crashed a second time attempting a pass on the inside of Luffield on the third lap, with Rabat lucky to stay mounted.

Nakagami continued to run comfortably at the front while chaos ensued behind, but he threw away his chances when he crashed at half distance on lap five at the Loop.

Rabat took over at the front by 1.2 seconds, with Lorenzo giving chase as Quartararo took another trip into the virtual gravel trap.

Lorenzo carved into Rabat's lead and by lap eight was close enough to strike, executing a bold move on the inside of Maggotts.

The Yamaha rider would go unopposed to the chequered flag, marking his first victory - albeit virtually - since the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix when he rode for the factory Ducati squad.

Rabat held onto second for his best-ever Virtual GP result, while Quartararo completed his eventful race in third to secure his first virtual podium.

That came at the expense of Nakagami, who was demoted to fourth late on ahead of Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, who suffered a number of tumbles, while Aprilia tester Lorenzo Savadori got his RS-GP to the chequered flag in sixth.

Bagnaia suffered several more tumbles on his way to seventh, while Suzuki's Joan Mir brought up the rear of the field in eighth.

This will be the only MotoGP action at Silverstone in 2020, after series promoters Dorna Sports announced the cancellation of this year's British Grand Prix last week.

After missing the Virtual Misano GP having been replaced on the bill by MotoE, the Moto2 and Moto3 classes returned to action following the MotoGP contest.

The six-lap races for both classes were won with ease by RW Racing's Bo Bendsneyder in Moto2, and Aspar's Stefano Nepa.

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