MotoGP Race Results From the Czech Grand Prix

Czech GP Race Results
1. Cal CRUTCHLOW (35) LCR Honda HONDA
2. Valentino ROSSI (46) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA
3. Marc MARQUEZ (93), Repsol Honda Team HONDA
4. Loris BAZ (76) Avintia Racing DUCATI
5. Hector BARBERA (8) Avintia Racing DUCATI
6. Eugene LAVERTY (50) Aspar Team MotoGP DUCATI
7. Danilo PETRUCCI (9) OCTO Pramac Yakhnich DUCATI
8. Andrea IANNONE (29) Ducati Team DUCATI
9. Maverick VIÑALES (25) Team Suzuki Ecstar SUZUKI
10. Tito RABAT (53) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS HONDA
11. Yonny HERNANDEZ (68) Aspar Team MotoGP DUCATI
12. Dani PEDROSA (26) Repsol Honda Team HONDA
13. Pol ESPARGARO (44) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA
14. Stefan BRADL (6) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA
15. Scott REDDING (45) OCTO Pramac Yakhnich DUCATI
16. Alvaro BAUTISTA (19) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA
17. Jorge LORENZO (99) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA

DNF: Andrea DOVIZIOSO (4) Ducati Team DUCATI
DNF: Bradley SMITH (38) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA
DNF: Aleix ESPARGARO (41) Team Suzuki Ecstar SUZUKI

After a torrential Moto2 race at the Automotodrom Brno, it was the turn of the MotoGP machines to head out as the rain was just starting to stop – leaving the prospect of a flag-to-flag hanging over the race. In the end it wasn’t to be, and it was Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) who sliced through the field in one of the most spectacular victories in recent years, taking the flag to become the first British winner for 35 years. He also follows Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) into the history books as a winner with an independent team in 2016, with wet weather opening the door for many on the grid.

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed the podium in a chaotic race, with the 9-time champion making a small gain on title rival Marquez as the two crossed the line in P2 and P3 respectively.

Polesitter Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had the worst start off the front row as Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) swept past the championship leader, before both Movistar Yamaha riders Lorenzo and teammate Valentino Rossi began to drop through the field on the harder option rear tire. Marquez played it safe to slot into the middle of the top ten as his title challengers suffered, as Iannone, teammate Dovizioso and Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) escaped at the front.

Cal Crutchlow then proved the man on the charge, with a tire combination of a hard front and hard rear coming into its own as the Brit charged from P15 to catch the front of the race in stunning style. Dovizioso suffered a tire problem that saw him pull in, as Crutchlow fought to take over at the front on an incredible roll.

The softer tire compounds of the frontrunners soon began to see them suffer, and it was Crutchlow leading the charge ahead of Valentino Rossi as the 9-time world champion suddenly clicked into gear and followed the Brit into the lead. The two, after seeming an almost lost cause after Lap 1 as they circulated well outside the top 10, proved unstoppable in their climb through the field and overcame what had seemed almost impossible to take the 1-2 on the harder option tires.

Marc Marquez then chose his moment to fight back, taking Andrea Iannone and Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing) in the squabble for the podium and protecting his title lead with a steady ride home behind Rossi. Now 53 points clear of Rossi, who took over in P2 in the title fight, Marquez has seen his lead grow through some of the most challenging races of the season - and ridden with a level head to make sure that was the case.

Late chargers as the tire wear proved decisive saw Loris Baz (Avintia Racing) suddenly appear and overtake his teammate Hector Barbera for a career-best equaling P4, and Eugene Laverty (PULL&BEAR Aspar) join the fight as he overtook Iannone for P6.

Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) also overtook his compatriot Iannone to end the race in P7, with Iannone limping home on a worn front tire, just ahead of Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who crossed the line in P9.

Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) kept his head to take his first top 10 finish in MotoGP, ahead of Yonny Hernandez (PULL&BEAR Aspar). Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) had a tough race to come home in P12, with old rival Jorge Lorenzo suffering the worst in Brno with a front tire problem.

Lorenzo fell backwards through the field in the early laps like teammate Rossi, and when he got back on the pace proved to be one of the fastest out there - also like teammate Rossi. With 7 laps to go the 'Spartan' then seemed to make the shocking decision to come into the pits to change bikes, but later revealed the front tire on the first bike was too damaged to continue. The Mallorcan headed back out in the race for a lap on the second bike in order to not simply retire, before switching back to his first machine with different front rubber and trying to salvage a better finish.

Next up? Silverstone, as Crutchlow heads back to his home track for the British GP.