Motorsport: Dovizioso tightens MotoGP standings

Andrea Dovizioso rides to win ahead Marc Marquez in Catalunya. Photo / Getty Images

Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso tightened the MotoGP championship fight after winning the Catalonia Grand Prix from a seventh-place start.

Dovizioso added the victory in Spain to his victory in Italy in the last race to give Ducati its first back-to-back race winner since Casey Stoner in 2010. It was Dovizioso's fourth career win since his debut in 2008.

Points leader Maverick Vinales failed to make up ground from a ninth-place start, bringing his Yamaha across the finish line 10th - almost 25 seconds after Dovizioso.

Vinales' lead in the standings was reduced to seven points ahead of Dovizioso after seven of 18 grand prix.

Defending champion Marc Marquez finished second at Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, more than three seconds behind, followed by Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, who started from pole position.

Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo faded from his second-place start to finish fourth, while Valentino Rossi was eighth.

Australia's Jack Miller crashed out of the race with 12 laps to go.