Jorge Lorenzo says he was more brave than fast during the early stages of the Italian Grand Prix, as he led a MotoGP race for the first time with Ducati.

Lorenzo lined up seventh for the Mugello race but jumped up to third before passing Yamaha pair Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi down the front straight to start lap two.

He overshot San Donato, letting Rossi back past, then pounced several corners later to take the lead until his former team-mate reclaimed top spot at Scarperia.

Starting lap three, Lorenzo flew past Rossi again down the front straight and made his move stick at San Donato, leading again until Scarperia nine corners later.

The three-time champion faded thereafter to finish eighth, as team-mate Andrea Dovizioso won, and felt his early charge was more about bravery than pace.

Lorenzo ultimately finished 14.393 seconds behind Dovizioso, while Pramac satellite rider Danilo Petrucci also finished on the podium with third place.

Like Dovi and Petrucci, who are hard brakers, the bike works much better for them.

"But, you know, it depends a lot in the tracks. Jerez I was more competitive, at Barcelona in the test I was much more competitive.

"So at Barcelona, at the moment, I am the one who is more comfortable with the bike."