Dani Pedrosa rode his Honda to victory in the San Marino MotoGP overnight, beating fellow Spaniard and championship leader Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo.
Lorenzo's team-mate and multiple world champion Valentino Rossi was third.
Lorenzo maintained his healthy lead over Pedrosa in the standings although the battle for third tightened between the rising Rossi, fourth-placed Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati's Casey Stoner who placed fifth.
Lorenzo has a massive 271 points to Pedrosa's 208.
Dovizioso is third on 139 with Rossi and Stoner now tied on 130.
The 24-year-old Pedrosa started from pole and never relinquished his grip on the race.
It was his fourth win of the year and the first time he has won back to back in the series.
There are six races left in the season.
