( CNN ) -- Valentino Rossi snapped a near three-year victory drought in MotoGP by claiming the Dutch round at Assen Saturday , but said the real `` hero '' had been his Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo who took a brave fifth with a broken collarbone . The defending world champion crashed at 200kph in practice earlier this week and underwent an operation in Barcelona early Friday on his injuries . Passed fit to race , he finished just behind fellow Spaniard and current title leader Dani Pedrosa to concede just two points in the overall standings , trailing him by nine after seven rounds . `` For me he is the hero of the day , '' Rossi told the official MotoGP website . `` When he told me he was going to ride , I thought there was no way he could . Two days after a terrible accident and such an operation is amazing . '' But for the legendary Italian , it was also a welcome return to the top of the podium after two disappointing seasons with Ducati . `` I 'm happy but I ca n't believe it and it 's a great feeling to be back in first position , '' he admitted . `` It 's been a long , long time since Sepang 2010 and during those years I 've ask myself the question : 'Can I get back to first position ? ' `` But I 've never given up and I 've always worked hard because this is my passion . I love to ride and race motorcycles . '' It was the nine-time world champion 's 80th victory in MotoGP , the premier class of motorcycling , and pushes him up to fifth in the overall standings , but still 51 points adrift of Pedrosa . Marc Marquez of Spain finished second for Honda ahead Britain 's Cal Clutchlow , who had claimed the first pole position of his career Friday . Marquez is third in the overall standings , 23 points adrift of teammate Pedrosa , after riding with injuries of his own . `` I am , happy with the result given that I have a fractured small finger on my right hand and a broken big toe , '' he said . But Marquez was unable to make much impression on Rossi , who took the checkered flag to a massive roar from the devoted motorcycling fans at one of the best attended races on the calendar . The eighth round of the championship takes place in Germany in two weeks time .
CNN wins Italian MotoGP at Assen . fifth victory for the Dutch legend since the day . Defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo races with broken collarbone . Spaniard finishes a brave fifth to stay in title hunt .