(CNN) -- Jorge Lorenzo extended his MotoGP series lead to 20 points after winning the Catalunya Grand Prix for the second time in his top-level motorcycling career.
The Yamaha rider started Sunday's race from second on the grid, but outshone Honda's polesitter Casey Stoner as the reigning world champion lost more ground in the overall standings after finishing fourth.
It was Lorenzo's third victory in five races this season, and second in a row after winning at Le Mans last month. He was runner-up in his two other MotoGP starts at Montmelo, and also won there with Aprilia in the 250cc class.
He came home five seconds ahead of fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, with Italy's Andrea Dovizioso third on a Monster Yamaha Tech 3.
Stoner sets pace in Catalunya qualifying
Honda's world champion Casey Stoner won 10 of the 17 completed races in MotoGP last season, including the finale in Valencia. He is hoping to retain his Qatar race title in Sunday's season opener.
Bike stars gear up for MotoGP 2012
Mourners lay flowers in Marco Simoncelli's hometown of Coriano as a sign of their respect for the former Honda rider.
Funeral of Marco Simoncelli
"I'm really happy with this victory as it was a very tough weekend. We performed a lot better than yesterday as in qualifying it was very hot," said the 2010 world champion, who had to make up ground after Pedrosa took the early lead.
"The grip on the track after the rain this morning was also not so great. I followed Dani and watched him, he slowed his pace and eventually made a mistake so I was able to pass him then give it full throttle."
Pedrosa was disappointed despite finishing on the podium at Montmelo for the eighth time, being 10 points behind teammate Stoner in third overall.
"A second place is always a second, but I really wanted to win today, I cannot feel happy," he said.
"I tried to attack but with 10 laps remaining I couldn't keep the pace. It was hard to control the bike on braking and in the exit of the corners, so I was defensive because I knew my corner speed was not so good. I made a mistake and I had a big wheelie, so Jorge got past me and I couldn't follow him."
Stoner, who plans to retire at the end of this season, was also disappointed -- having won the previous four races held at Spanish circuits.
"We gave it everything at the end but we just didn't have the pace, especially in the beginning with the hard tire," the Australian said.
"With the performance we had during the weekend we expected to be a little stronger throughout the race."
Dovizioso's British teammate Cal Crutchlow was fifth ahead of Spain's Alvaro Bautista and seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Ducati.
Germany's Stefan Bradl was eighth on a Honda, with Ducati's Nicky Hayden ninth and fellow American Ben Spies 10th.
Spies dropped from second early in the race, which was a big blow after qualifying in fourth on Saturday.
"I just made one mistake in the race and blew our chance," the 27-year-old said. "We were going good in the beginning but I was getting impatient with Dani.
"He was holding me up but I couldn't make the pass on the straight so I had to go for it on the brakes and unfortunately got out onto the edge of the track. I got up and we got back into it and our pace was pretty good, unfortunately it was too late to get back to the front."
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Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo finished second at Japanese Grand Prix in October -- and second overall as the Spaniard relinquished his world title to Stoner. A finger injury ruled him out of the last three races.
Honda's Andrea Dovizioso will be seeking his first race victory since his maiden win in 2009. The Italian placed third overall last year after registering seven podium placings.
Another Honda rider, Dani Pedrosa, was fourth in 2011 after missing three races due to a fractured collarbone at the French Grand Prix in May. The Spaniard was runner-up to Lorenzo in 2010.
Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi will seek to improve on a disappointing first season at Ducati, having ended 2011 in seventh place.
American rider Ben Spies was Rossi's replacement at Yamaha's main team last year, and the 27-year-old won a race for the first time in the Netherlands and finished fifth overall.
Rossi's teammate Nicky Hayden was a world champion with Honda in 2006, but finished eighth last year and crashed in the final race. The 30-year-old American is starting his fourth season at the Italian team.
Britain's Cal Crutchlow was a big success in the World Superbike series, but struggled after taking the step up to MotoGP last year with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team.
Hiroshi Aoyama was the top Japanese rider in MotoGP last year. The 30-year-old finished the season 10th for the San Carlo Honda Gresini team.
Spanish rider Hector Barbera has switched to the Pramac Racing team for 2012 after two years at Ducati, where he finished 12th and then 11th overall.
Young Czech rider Karel Abraham will be embarking on his second season in MotoGP. The 22-year-old was 14th overall for Ducati last year.
The starting grid will be less colorful this year due to the absence of charismatic Italian rider Marco Simoncelli, who died after crashing at the Malaysian Grand Prix in October.
Motorsport fans gather outside the theater in the Italian town. The 24-year-old MotoGP rider died following a crash in Malaysia on Sunday.
People queue to see Simoncelli's coffin and pay their final respects to their late hero.
"I decided to take my license for bikes, because I was tired of going around only with 125cc bikes. I was so happy with my new driving license. After two days it was already revoked..."
"There is this legend about all drivers, I mean, having affairs with umbrella girls. But I never got one ... Because they arrive in the morning when, oh Mary, when you are so tense for the race, and you don't think so much about chicks, you are focused on the race. Then when the race is over and maybe it went good and, oh Mary, and you are high and maybe you want to party ... well they have already left, and you stay there by yourself."
"I feel like a pig at Christmas."
"Okay, sometimes I cut my hair, but only when they break my balls."
"I see some friends of mine finishing school, and not even they know what to do of their life, whether to go university or to work. But I think that one thing that helps us live in a more daring way is to have a target. It can be whatever, sport or job. But Good Lord if you have in mind a target, something to reach, I believe that helps you carry on fearlessly."
"I was 14 years old and I was riding my dad's big scooter up and down the path to home. And my mom was so worried: 'Good Lord, slow down, your aunt will arrive on the other side, take care.' Me, what do I care about my aunt ... So I was going full speed down. The aunt arrived ... I only had the time to see the white outline of her Opel appearing. I had the quickness of reflex to hit her car head on."
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