Misano MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo has sympathy for Dani Pedrosa

Pedrosa had been due to start on pole but, after the first start had to be abandoned, a technical issue meant he was unable to line up properly for the second start.

He was forced to join the grid from the back of the grid as a result, and as he tried to progress through the field was wiped out in a Turn 6 incident with Hector Barbera.

Lorenzo, himself a victim of a first-lap collision at Assen earlier this year, went on to win the race and extend his lead to 38 points.

"To be honest we have been really lucky today, because without the problem with the lights at the start Dani wouldn't crash," Lorenzo said.

"It was bad luck for him; we had the same in Holland [but] got lucky today.

"In the championship though it was fantastic for us, we [can be] a bit more calm now. We needed a strong result."

Lorenzo denied the race was straightforward following Pedrosa's exit, saying the improved form of Valentino Rossi and a self-inflicted scare meant he couldn't relax.

"I had a big moment, I almost crashed in the first corner on the third lap," he said. "How I saved it I don't know.

"I saw Valentino was quite fast and competitive too, so it was difficult to go ahead, not make mistakes and keep concentration.

"I knew something was wrong with Dani because I saw Rossi in second and he never caught and passed him, but I didn't see it on the board.

"It was bad luck for him but an important win for us in championship."