( CNN ) -- Jorge Lorenzo moved closer to the MotoGP world championship on Sunday with a decisive win at the San Marino Grand Prix . The Yamaha Factory Racing rider is now 38 points clear at the top of the riders ' standings with just five races remaining , after his nearest rival Dani Pedrosa crashed out on the first lap . It was an emotional weekend at the track which is now named after Marco Simoncelli , the Italian who lost his life following a crash in Malaysia in October 2011 . Simoncelli 's compatriot and close friend Valentino Rossi produced his best ride of the season to finish behind 2010 champion Lorenzo in second place . `` This second place is something special , '' seven-time riders ' champion Rossi told BBC Sport after the 13th race of 2012 . `` I have a lot of fans in Misano , my hometown is only a few minutes away , but more importantly this is in the name of Marco . `` This result is for him and for his family . I think Marco helped me to achieve this today . '' It was a miserable race for Repsol Honda 's Pedrosa , who had qualified for the grand prix in pole position . The first race start had been abandoned , due to Karel Abraham stalling his Ducati , before Pedrosa was forced to start from the back of the grid after experiencing a problem with his front tire . When the race eventually got underway , a nightmare Sunday for Spain 's Pedrosa was completed when he was forced off the track and out of the race by Hector Barbera of the Pramac Racing Team . The 14th round of the 2012 championship will take place at Motorland Aragon in Spain on September 30 .
Jorge Lorenzo wins the MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix . The Spaniard leads the world championship by 38 points with five races remaining . Lorenzo 's championship rival Dani Pedrosa crashes out on the first lap of the race . Valentino Rossi finishes second at the track named after his late friend Marco Simoncelli .