---
title: "Cal Crutchlow takes Britain’s first MotoGP win in 35 years"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/08/21/cal-crutchlow-takes-britains-first-motogp-win-35-years/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Murray"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-08-21T13:43:44Z"
modified: "2016-08-21T13:43:44Z"
---

# Cal Crutchlow takes Britain’s first MotoGP win in 35 years

Cal Crutchlow has today ended Britain’s thirty-five year wait for a premier class victory by taking the win at today’s Czech GP at Brno.

The LCR Honda rider became the first Brit to win since Barry Sheene won the 500cc race in Sweden. After a couple of close shaves for the Coventry-born rider, he finally took his debut win in the class.

It wasn’t easy for Crutchlow, and many riders in today’s race. It was a difficult start for Marc Marquez, who went backwards alongside the Yamaha’s of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. The early leaders were the Ducati trio of Andrea Dovizioso, Scott Redding and Andrea Iannone.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/08/592291040.jpg)

However, it would be Crutchlow’s day, as the British rider got his tyre combination spot on. He cut through the field from 15th position to head up to the front. The softer tyre choices by the riders at the front turned out to be their downfall, as they fell backwards.

Rossi stayed with Crutchlow as the pair cut through the field. Crutchlow eventually got the front and was able to take his first ever win in the premier class.

Rossi was able to take second, whilst Marquez took yet another podium. This would prove to be pivotal in the championship race after Jorge Lorenzo made yet another blunder. After falling back with Rossi, he chose to switch bikes. This was the wrong move, and left the Spaniard down in 17th, meaning Rossi overtook him in the Championship.

Behind Marquez were the three satellite Ducati’s of Loris Baz, Hector Barbera and Eugene Laverty. The trio put in late charges to overtake Ducati Factory rider Andrea Iannone and take home a fantastic points finish.

Danilo Petrucci finished just in front of Iannone, in what turned out to be a bad day for the Factory Ducati team. Maverick Vinales came home in ninth.

Tito Rabat held on to take his first top ten finish of the season in tenth, with Yonny Hernandez and Dani Pedrosa finishing in eleventh and twelfth.

Crutchlow will be hoping to continue the British charge in two weeks time, as the MotoGP paddock heads to the Silverstone Circuit in Northampton for the Octo British GP.