The clouds lifted on the Silverstone circuit as Maverick Vinales stormed to his first ever premier class victory at the British Grand Prix. The Suzuki man converted his pole position by rocketing to the front on lap one, leading from then on in. Cal Crutchlow took 2nd and Valentino Rossi came home in the bronze medal position.
In a race that was action packed from the line, Vinales almost beat Rossi to turn one but the Italian held on. However, it was further down the field where the action started to take place.
Pol Espargaro and Loris Baz came together on the 180mph approach to turn 2, bringing the pair down and catapulting them through the air. Both bikes were decimated as they bounced across the track, with Loris’ machine steaming on the side of the circuit. Baz was slapped down on the track and sprawled out as the other riders took action to avoid the carnage.
Eugene Laverty was the man of the moment as he passed Valentino Rossi into 2nd place by turn 8. The red flag came out just seconds later.
Pol Espargaro was stretchered off the track and Loris Baz was being treated on the circuit for injuries.
The restart got underway and this time Rossi and Crutchlow went head to head on the run to the first turn, with the gritty Brit beating the veteran Italian. Vinales passed the pair of them by turns 8 & 9 and that was the end of the battle for the lead. Rossi, Crutchlow, Marquez, Iannone and Pedrosa were now all embedded into the battle for the podium positions.
Iannone crashed out at Luffield, ending what had been a disastrous British GP for the effervescent Italian. Rossi and Marquez then endured a head to head, similar to the controversial clash at Sepang last season. Elbow to elbow and touching for three laps, the two exchanged positons nearly 10 times.
Marc and Cal also had a few close shaves, with Woodcote corner being the closest of them all, when Cal put Marquez on the kerb as he blasted his way underneath the four-time champion. However, with two laps to go, Marquez went to make his move down at Stowe but collided with Crutchlow, ran wide and rejoined the track back in 5th.
Vinales came through Woodcote corner and took his 17th win and his first in the premier class. It was Suzuki’s first in 9 years and their first dry weather race win since 2001 and Sete Gibernau at Valencia. Crutchlow held off a sensational last lap charge from Valentino Rossi to take 2nd at his home round.
An incredible day of racing, one of which was history making. Maverick Vinales becomes the seventh different winner in MotoGP. That has never happened before in the top class. It was also the first time in 9 years that four different makes of machinery have won a race. A historic day for motorsport and a sensational finish to an action packed British Grand Prix, just who will be the next winner of a MotoGP race this season?
Misano is the next fortress to conquer and you can join us next weekend @PitCrew_Online for live commentary of the races from 10am. Follow me personally @MotoGPKiko for more bike related stuff!
Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko