BRNO: Cal Crutchlow took his maiden win as he dominated a rain-hit race Czech Grand Prix on Sunday, ending Britain’s 35-year wait for a MotoGP race winner.

Crutchlow, who races with the number 35, became the first British winner in the top class of grand prix motorcycling since the late double world champion Barry Sheene’s last victory in Sweden on a 500cc Yamaha in 1981.

The rider with the independent 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-kilometre (3.357-mile) circuit in 47 minutes and 44.290 seconds.

“It’s the best day of my racing career,” said the 30-year-old rider, who became a father for the first time three weeks ago. “I’m really, really pleased for my team. We worked hard for this and I took the gamble.”

Italian legend Valentino Rossi claimed second on his Yamaha after finishing more than seven seconds behind the Briton, ahead of championship leader Marc Marquez on a Honda.

With seven races to go, the result leaves Marquez at the top of the overall standings on 197 poi­nts, 53 ahead of Rossi.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2016