Maiden win for Maverick Vinales of Team Suzuki Ecstar at British MotoGP

Silverstone’s British Grand Prix saw Maverick Vinales of Team Suzuki Ecstar cruising to victory while home hero Cal Crutchlow managed a second place, outpacing MotoGP championship leader and Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez who ran off the track to finish fourth behind legend Valentino Rossi. For Maverick it was an incredible maiden win.

The original race was red flagged on the opening lap after Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha tech 3) and Loris Baz (Avintia Racing) clashed in a dramatic crash, which led to both receiving trackside treatment. Spaniard Vinales was the class act after the restart for Team Suzuki Ecstar and he duly claimed the victory with the LCR Honda of Briton Crutchlow three seconds behind.

Rossi’s Movistar Yamaha completed the podium leaving Marquez to rue his late mistake in fourth, team-mate Dani Pedrosa fifth and Andrea Dovizioso back in sixth. Marquez still leads the standings with a healthy 50-point gap to Rossi and reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo a further 14 points behind.

With the initial lights out it was Maverick Viñales at the front, before an incident between Loris Baz and Pol Espargaro brought out the red flag and the two riders went to the medical centre. On the restart, the front row of the grid of Crutchlow, Rossi and Viñales fought for the lead, with Crutchlow taking the position early before Viñales got through to lead and pull away.

With Viñales leading, it was Marc Marquez  ahead of Rossi, Crutchlow, Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) and Marquez' teammate Dani Pedrosa, while reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) experiencing a difficult race as he was left behind in P8.