The Yamaha rider started from pole and led for the opening laps before Stoner's Honda powered past and soon opened up a comfortable advantage.

But after establishing a cushion of around two seconds at the front, Stoner's bid fell apart in the closing laps as the Australian was caught and passed by Lorenzo and his own team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Stoner said after the race that he had been suffering from 'arm pump', a condition that causes muscular swelling in the arm as a consequence of gripping the handlebars.

Lorenzo said: "I put everything I have into the track. Casey was very strong at the beginning, opened a gap. Lucky for us he dropped his pace. I'm very grateful to Yamaha. They did a big job this winter."

Cutchlow shines

After Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Stoner had crossed the line, Britain's Cal Crutchlow was next home on his Tech 3 Yamaha to equal his best finish in the category.

Pedrosa beat Stoner into the first corner despite the Spaniard starting seventh on the grid but Stoner battled back to assert his dominance.

He passed Pedrosa into turn one at the start of lap three and then did likewise to Lorenzo on the next tour, but he could not hold the lead to the flag.

Crutchlow, who qualified in third but was immediately dropped by the fast-starting Pedrosa, came home just ahead of Andrea Dovizioso after a race-long duel between the new team-mates.

Nicky Hayden was the first of the Ducatis home in sixth ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Gresini Honda), rookie Stefan Bradl and Hector Barbera (Pramac Ducati), while Hayden's team-mate Valentino Rossi went off track early on and could only manage 10th.