Race

Simoncelli has gone back past Spies to take fourth spot, but the two are still neck-and-neck.

Lorenzo is cruising now, and surely set to strike a massive blow in the context of the world championship.

If anything Dovizioso is closing on Stoner quicker than Stoner is hitting back at Lorenzo. The Aussie's tyres must surely be knackered.

Lorenzo is absolutely flying, now - he's already pulling clear of Stoner, can the Aussie find a way to reply?

LORENZO GOES THROUGH ON THE INSIDE! Stoner gives up the lead for the first time in the race!

The gap between the front two is down to 0.3 seconds... but HERE COMES LORENZO! HE'S MAKING A MOVE!

Crutchlow, back in the pits, explains that he "knew I was going to crash" after struggling with the set-up.

The gap is under three-quarters of a second now... now under half a second, and Lorenzo is already looking for gaps to make a move!

Lorenzo is reeling in Stoner as if he has caught the Aussie on a fishing line - the Yamaha definitely looks to be easier on his tyres. We've got a race on!

The pit board is out for Stoner, showing the Aussie that he is just 1.1 seconds ahead now.

The question is, is Stoner slowing due to tyre wear issues, or is he just making sure of the win by taking it easy right now?

Stoner is slowing down a little, the gap now under 1.3 seconds, but surely he's far enough ahead to close out the win... isn't he?

That was a lovely move from Spies - and brave, considering that tiny gap on the inside that he used to pass Simoncelli.

Spies loses fourth immediately, but regains it on the next corner thanks to his better track position and he's now consolidated that lovely piece of overtaking.

Spies is all over the Italian - and takes him on the start-finish straight!

The battle for fourth is joined now, with Ben Spies having closed right up on Simoncelli after looking like he didn't have the pace.

Lorenzo is picking up the pace a bit, and has closed the gap on Stoner to just inside two seconds.

Rossi is pulling clear in sixth place now, but he's 14 seconds adrift of fith-placed Ben Spies.

Great move from Lorenzo! He nips around the outside at Casanova, but can Dovizioso hit back?

Rossi just starting to pull away from that group of riders now, while up ahead the battle for second is still raging, with Lorenzo all over Dovizioso.

Rossi back behind Barbera - it's a cracking battle for sixth place - but now he takes him again! The cheering is deafening - you'd think he'd just won the race.

Lorenzo overdoes it into a corner, taking Dovizioso but letting the Italian straight back through at the very next corner. Sloppy from the champ.

Rossi is having a great tussle with Barbera - but he finally makes it through, and the crowd are going wild...

Simoncelli has closed the gap a little on Lorenzo and Dovizioso now, and could chalenge - but he's run wide on the first turn and slips back again.

Casey Stoner has set a new circuit record out in front, a 1:48.577. That would be good time for qualifying, let alone the race.

Lorenzo comes up behind Dovizioso as the two cross the line, but the Italian holds him off well.

Terrible news for Cal Crutchlow, who comes into the pitch pointing at his front wheel.

Dovizioso takes Lorenzo! Stunning move on the inside as Lorenzo misses his braking point, but Lorenzo is still right on his tail and could easily hit back.

Rossi takes Crutchlow! He's now right on the tail of Barbera.

Rossi is right on the tail of Cal Crutchlow now, with the Englishman having been taken by Barbera.

There's a five second gap between Spies in fifth and Bautista in sixth, but looks like we'll have a great tussle for positions two to five.

Stoner is stretching the gap all the time, nearly two seconds clear now...

The start of lap 19 and Dovizioso makes a move on Lorenzo, but the Spaniard hlds firm in second spot.

Rossi is picking up his pace on the Ducati, and is closing fast on Barbera.

Stoner stretches his lead to nearly 1.5 seconds after three laps - he's looking invincible at the moment.

Elias makes a mistake, running wide and slipping back to 11th! Valentino Rossi now up to 10th after that.

Simoncelli is failing to close the gap on Dovizioso - strange given his pace this weekend, perhaps he's holding off after his recent crashes.

Dovizioso had a good start and is running third, with Spies fourth, Simoncelli fifth, Hayden sixth and Elias up to seventh after getting a flier.

At the end of the first lap Stoner is over a second clear, with Lorenzo in second place.

Marco Simoncelli is now more than half-way round the track - an improvement on last time out already...

Rossi made a poor start and didn't manage to make up any ground there.

And they're away! 23 laps start here, and Stoner leads into the first corner.

We're nearly there - the riders are lining up on the grid...

The riders are away for the warm-up lap - and as they do so, hundreds of fans in the crowd hold up their green and yellow '46' placards in honour of their hero Valentino Rossi. Just a shame that the multiple champ doesn't look like ending his woes today after qualifying down in 12th.

Marco Simoncelli continued his blistering recent form in this morning's warm-up, topping the timesheets with a lap of 1:48.430, which would have put him second on the grid yesterday.

After the damp squib that was yesterday's qualifying session, it's a stunning day in Tuscany for today's race - we should be in for an absolute treat.

Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Italian MotoGP race at Mugello.