MotoGP Grand Prix of Czech Republic 2016 Results: Winner, Standings and Reaction

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow produced a storming finish to grab his first win in MotoGP, mastering testing conditions to triumph in the Czech Republic Grand Prix on Sunday. 

Crutchlow surged from the middle of the field in the second half of the race, picking off riders and eventually jumping ahead of Ducati’s Andrea Iannone into the lead. The Italian fell well back down the field late on, with Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Honda's Marc Marquez taking second and third, respectively.

Marquez now leads the world championship standings by 53 points from Rossi. That's after Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo, who had a day to forget, came home in 17th position.

Here are the results from the race, the revised standings and a look back at a thrilling victory for Crutchlow.

Pos.	Rider	Nation	Team	Time/Gap
1	Cal CRUTCHLOW	GBR	LCR Honda	47'44.290
2	Valentino ROSSI	ITA	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	+7.298
3	Marc MARQUEZ	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	+9.587
4	Loris BAZ	FRA	Avintia Racing	+12.558
5	Hector BARBERA	SPA	Avintia Racing	+13.093
6	Eugene LAVERTY	IRL	Pull & Bear Aspar Team	+13.812
7	Danilo PETRUCCI	ITA	OCTO Pramac Yakhnich	+23.414
8	Andrea IANNONE	ITA	Ducati Team	+24.562
9	Maverick VINALES	SPA	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	+24.581
10	Tito RABAT	SPA	Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS	+37.131
11	Yonny HERNANDEZ	COL	Pull & Bear Aspar Team	+39.911
12	Dani PEDROSA	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	+41.097
13	Pol ESPARGARO	SPA	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	+43.202
14	Stefan BRADL	GER	Aprilia Racing Team Gresini	+45.687
15	Scott REDDING	GBR	OCTO Pramac Yakhnich	+1'02.201
16	Alvaro BAUTISTA	SPA	Aprilia Racing Team Gresini	+1'18.841
17	Jorge LORENZO	SPA	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	1 Lap
DNF	Andrea DOVIZIOSO	ITA	Ducati Team	7 Laps
DNF	Bradley SMITH	GBR	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	8 Laps
DNF	Aleix ESPARGARO	SPA	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	9 Laps

Pos.	Rider	Bike	Nation	Points
1	Marc MARQUEZ	Honda	SPA	197
2	Valentino ROSSI	Yamaha	ITA	144
3	Jorge LORENZO	Yamaha	SPA	138
4	Dani PEDROSA	Honda	SPA	109
5	Maverick VINALES	Suzuki	SPA	100
6	Andrea IANNONE	Ducati	ITA	96
7	Pol ESPARGARO	Yamaha	SPA	81
8	Andrea DOVIZIOSO	Ducati	ITA	79
9	Hector BARBERA	Ducati	SPA	76
10	Cal CRUTCHLOW	Honda	GBR	66
11	Eugene LAVERTY	Ducati	IRL	63
12	Scott REDDING	Ducati	GBR	54
13	Aleix ESPARGARO	Suzuki	SPA	51
14	Jack MILLER	Honda	AUS	42
15	Bradley SMITH	Yamaha	GBR	42
16	Stefan BRADL	Aprilia	GER	39
17	Danilo PETRUCCI	Ducati	ITA	38
18	Alvaro BAUTISTA	Aprilia	SPA	35
19	Tito RABAT	Honda	SPA	26
20	Loris BAZ	Ducati	FRA	24
21	Michele PIRRO	Ducati	ITA	23
22	Yonny HERNANDEZ	Ducati	COL	8

Crutchlow Storms to Memorable Win

Having qualified in pole position, Marquez was able to keep in front off the line, although the Ducati duo of Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso scythed through the field into second and third, respectively.

The pace of the Ducati’s proved too tough to handle in the early stages, as they both surged by the Honda man. Indeed, Steve Redding also capitalised on Marquez’s struggles in the changing conditions, moving past the Spaniard and up into third.

Per Crash.net MotoGP, it was a superb start for the Ducati teams:

The trio started to build something of a gap at the front, with Redding not intent on sitting in third spot. He was able to part the Ducatis, racing around Dovizioso into second spot behind Iannone.

Meanwhile, the Yamaha duo of Rossi and Lorenzo were both struggling for pace and looking out of contention for a podium spot, although the former was building his pace steadily. Marquez was battling with compatriots Hector Barbera and Aleix Espargaro to remain in fourth, with the latter passing him on Lap 9.

Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images

It’d get better for Barbera, too, as Dovizioso ran into trouble on Lap 10, putting an end to his chances. Per GPxtra, there were some riders further back in the field making moves:

Indeed, Crutchlow was involved in an exciting tussle with Rossi, who was beginning to jump up the field himself, per the MotoGP Twitter feed:

The Englishman found himself in fourth with nine laps left in the race, setting up a fascinating final section of the race and quickly closing the gap on Iannone, Barbera and Redding up front. Crutchlow was in a superb groove at this juncture and was quickly up into second spot.

Jens Meyer/Associated Press

Only the Ducati of Iannone separated Crutchlow from first place and the Coventry-born rider was quickly all over the back of the leader. With his superior pace at this point, the Englishman easily moved past Iannone and, remarkably, led the race.

Commentator Steve English paid tribute to Crutchlow’s superb temperament, with just five laps remaining:

With open road ahead, the Honda blitzed off into the distance, quickly leaving Iannone looking over his shoulder. The only man as fast as Crutchlow on the track at this juncture was Rossi, having moved up into third with some sublime riding.

He was then brilliantly placed to capitalise on an error from his compatriot, jumping into second. Iannone, from that point, lost grip on his front tyre and some sloppy riding saw Marquez, who produced an excellent last lap, take the final step on the podium. The Ducati man, having led for so long, eventually limped home in eighth.

Meanwhile, here's a look at the moment Crutchlow crossed the line, per BT Sport MotoGP:

Afterwards, he admitted the strategy deployed was a big risk. "I took the gamble," he said, per Crash.net. "I don't know if anyone else did this. As far as I'm concerned they're all wimps! I'm so thankful for my team. That was a good way to repay them today."

This will go down as a memorable win for Crutchlow in a race that had so many factors to consider. The drying track was tough to negotiate and fast riders were out of position, but the Englishman showed great composure in his overtaking at Brno. Once he was at the head of the field, victory was never in doubt. 

Meanwhile, with Lorenzo crawling home in last place, Rossi and Marquez will be pleased with their late recoveries. Neither were at their best today, although these battling afternoons can be so important to keep momentum building in their world title bids.