'Help' seemed the most suitable song for the Spaniard's beaten rivals, who were eclipsed on a bright afternoon at a Silverstone circuit hosting the British motorcycle Grand Prix for the first time in 24 years.

With his Fiat Yamaha teammate and world champion Valentino Rossi out for months after breaking his leg in Italy two weeks ago, Lorenzo inherited the mantle of title favorite and lived up to the billing at Silverstone.

Almost eight seconds ahead and out of sight of the rest at the halfway stage, he coasted to a dominant victory while others scrapped to be second best.

The 23-year-old had led the standings even before Rossi's crash but now looks unstoppable with three wins and two second places from five races. His lead over Italian Andrea Dovizioso has stretched to 37 points.

If the close-cropped rider was always going to have a problem letting his hair down afterwards, he got around that difficulty by donning a long Sergeant Pepper coat to pose with three friends in Beatles wigs in a homage to the 1960s Fab Four.

"Normally I get some music in my MP3," Lorenzo, a former London resident, explained. "It was a long time that I had heard the Beatles.

"We are in England so it was nice to make a homage to them."

Lorenzo had other matters on his mind when he arrived at Silverstone, worried how Rossi's absence and his temporary new status as sole works Yamaha rider would play on his mind.

The garage, usually divided between the two, remained split with Rossi's blue and white bike left on its stand as a reminder of the absent champion.

Majorca-born Lorenzo had faded at Mugello as he took in the ramifications of Rossi's fall, allowing Honda rival Dani Pedrosa to take that win.

On Sunday, he faced his demons and came out stronger.

"It is a very important day," he told reporters, the champagne still sticky on his leathers after celebrating in front of a 70,000-strong crowd.

"Today I felt a different feeling. This feeling said to me that it could be a good day for us.

"One of the more important things has been my change of mentality. After Mugello I was a little bit worried that the crash of Valentino, and that he will not go for the rest of the season, will affect my mind.

"But I was working on it and thinking about just enjoying myself, riding a bike, just enjoying my job and, like this, I think we can get it at the end of the year."