LE MANS, France -- Jorge Lorenzo handled the rain-soaked Le Mans track to win the French Grand Prix for the third time on Sunday.
Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi overtook Casey Stoner late to take second place.
The Spaniard, who won here in 2009 and 2010, put in a masterful performance as he surged ahead from fourth place on the grid to beat Rossi by nearly 10 seconds and regain the overall lead from defending champion Stoner.
Rossi and Stoner, who will retire at the end of the season, were in a frantic competition for second in the pouring rain, with the Italian overtaking the Australian on the final lap to improve on his third-place finish last year.
Spaniard Dani Pedrosa finished fourth after starting from the pole position.