( CNN ) -- Jorge Lorenzo climbed from fourth on the grid to win the French MotoGP at a rain-soaked Le Mans on Sunday and take the lead in the championship . Riding his Yamaha flawlessly in the wet conditions , Lorenzo took the lead on the first lap and eventually finished 9.905 seconds clear of Valentino Rossi , who had the consolation of his best finish so far for Ducati . Rossi held off a determined Casey Stoner , who finished third in the week he announced he was quitting the sport at the end of the season . `` It was really difficult to hold concentration today , in the dry it 's complicated but in the wet it 's even more , '' Lorenzo said . `` The race feels much longer and you have to remember where the corners are slippery every lap . If you forget one you can crash very easily . '' Lorenzo , who won for the second time this season , leads the championship by eight points from Stoner . `` I was pretty happy to hold on for a podium today , '' Stoner said . `` I enjoyed the battle with Valentino at the end , there was clean overtaking and we swapped positions a few times but in the end we knew that Valentino had better pace than us and after he passed there was no way I could stay with him . `` We did everything we could today and to come away with a podium is a good result . '' Stoner 's Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa started on pole but ended up fourth , and is now 25 points adrift of Lorenzo . `` In the race I immediately realized it was not my day , not a day to take any risk and it was important to simply reach the best position , '' Pedrosa said . Rossi managed to work his way from the third row of the grid to second . The seven-time MotoGP champion overtook Stoner on the final lap to record his best result since joining Ducati in 2011 . `` I 'm really , really happy , '' Rossi said . `` We knew we had a special opportunity in the wet today , so I tried to ride perfectly and not throw it away . `` It was a great race and a nice , fun battle with Stoner to the last lap . Now our main goal is to take another step forward and make up some more tenths . ''
Jorge Lorenzo wins the French MotoGP for his second victory of the season . Valentino Rossi thrives in wet conditions to finish second for his best result for Ducati . Casey Stoner is third in the week he announced his impending retirement . Lorenzo leads the championship by eight points from Stoner .