Winning in the rain: Great Britain's Cal Crutchlow claims historic win in weather-hit Czech Republic MotoGP in Brno
The Honda rider is the first Briton to win an elite-class Grand Prix since Barry Sheene in 1981, with Valentino Rossi second and championship leader Marc Marquez third
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Britain’s Cal Crutchlow on a Honda claimed his maiden MotoGP win as he dominated a rain-hit race at Brno in the Czech Republic on Sunday.
Italian legend Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha took second place ahead of championship leader Marc Marquez on a Honda.
The result leaves Marquez at the top of the overall standings on 197 points, 53 ahead of Rossi with Jorge Lorenzo dropping to third overall, on 138 points, after finishing 17th at Brno.
In wet conditions following several hours of steady rain, pole-sitter Marquez took an early lead but was soon replaced by Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, the winner from Austria a week ago.
“I’m really, really pleased for my team,” Crutchlow said. “We worked hard for this.”
Crutchlow worked his way through the pack patiently from 10th on the grid to take the lead from the Italian whose soft option tyres started to wear off.
“I took the gamble,” said Crutchlow. “We did the best job we could today.”
The 37-year-old Rossi, who has won five top-class Grands Prix at Brno, battled back from as low as 12th early in the race.
Crutchlow is the first Briton to win an elite-class Grand Prix since Barry Sheene in 1981.
France’s Loris Baz took the fourth spot, his best ever MotoGP result, ahead of Spain’s Hector Barbera and Ireland’s Eugene Laverty.
The next race is the British Grand Prix on September 4.
