Moto GP: Cal Crutchlow seals maiden race victory to end Britain's 35-year wait for premier class winner

Crutchlow utilised his strategy after starting on hard tyres to race through the field to finish ahead of Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez

Cal Crutchlow celebrates his success in the Czcech Grand Prix (AP)

Cal Crutchlow won the Czech Grand Prix on Sunday for his maiden MotoGP triumph.

The Briton with the LCR Honda team dealt best with the wet track that was slowly drying out after rain earlier in the day to cover 22 laps of the 5.403-kilometer (3.357-mile) Brno circuit in 47 minutes and 44.290 seconds.

After starting from 10th position on the grid, Crutchlow gradually moved ahead to take the lead with seven laps to go. Unlike most riders who started on soft tyres, Crutchlow opted for hard ones and that strategy paid off.

Crutchlow becomes Britain's first MotoGP winner in 35 years (AP)

Crutchlow stood on the top step of the podium for the first time in his career (AP)

Crutchlow finished ahead of Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez (AP)

Six-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha finished 7.298 seconds behind while championship leader Marc Marquez was third on his Honda, 9.587 back.

Marquez leads overall with 197 points, Rossi is second with 144.

Results:

1. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda 47:44.290

2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 47:51.588

3. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 47:53.877

4. Loris Baz (France) Ducati 47:56.848

5. Hector Barbera (Spain) Ducati 47:57.383

6. Eugene Laverty (Ireland) Ducati 47:58.102

7. Danilo Petrucci (Italy) Ducati 48:07.704

8. Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati 48:08.852

9. Maverick Vinales (Spain) Suzuki 48:08.871

10. Tito Rabat (Spain) Honda 48:21.421

11. Yonny Hernandez (Colombia) Ducati 48:24.201

12. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 48:25.387

13. Pol Espargaro (Spain) Yamaha 48:27.492

14. Stefan Bradl (Germany) Aprilia 48:29.977

15. Scott Redding (Britain) Ducati 48:46.491

AP