Lorenzo says pressure slowed him

The Fiat Yamaha rider kept up with the Ducati Marlboro until lap 15, when the Australian opened a gap over the Spaniard that widened to five seconds by race's end, with Lorenzo having to settle for second.

"This makes me immensely happy," Lorenzo told Italia1 television. "Obviously victory would have been much nicer, but the Ducati and especially Casey Stoner went quicker than us. He deserves this victory.

"Up until midway through the race we were up there with him, and I though we could stay with him to the end. But then my arm got sore due to the pressure of the race. After the initial tension for this debut I became tired towards the end and my pace dropped."

He added: "Today we had a chance of winning but we didn't because Stoner went really quick and he deserves the victory. But let's not think about the championship. We may go to Jerez and end up tenth, or do better than today. This is the result and then we'll see."