MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow third as Dani Pedrosa wins in Brno

 

Britain's Cal Crutchlow took his first MotoGP podium with a third-placed finish as Dani Pedrosa won the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno.

Crutchlow, 26, is the first British rider to stand on the rostrum in a premier-class event for 12 years.

Honda rider Pedrosa was able to pass title rival Jorge Lorenzo on the final corner, with Lorenzo finishing second.

Pedrosa's third victory of the season cut Lorenzo's lead at the top of the standings to 13 points.

MotoGP standings

  • Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha, 245 points
  • Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda, 232
  • Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda, 186
  • Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Tech 3 Yamaha, 150
  • Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha, 122

Jeremy McWilliams was the last Briton to make the podium when he came third at the British 500cc Grand Prix at Donington in 2000.

The last Englishman to step onto the podium was Simon Buckmaster, who came second at Misano in 1989. 

Crutchlow - who signed a new contract with his Tech 3 Yamaha team on Saturday - had qualified in second place and despite seeing Lorenzo and Pedrosa pull away early on was always comfortable in third place.

He was able to keep team-mate Andrea Dovizioso around two seconds behind him to the flag to end the long wait and seal third.

Cal Crutchlow

Crutchlow 'elated' with first podium

He told BBC Sport: "I am elated, and we have proved a lot of people wrong.

"We have finally got there. There has been a lot of pressure on me to do it all season and hopefully I can continue it now.

"To end a 12-year drought for a British rider to get on a MotoGP podium is also a great feeling.

"It seems a long time since Jeremy McWilliams did it, so I hope the British fans don't have to wait that long for the next one!"

Lorenzo and Pedrosa were involved in a thrilling fight for the win which went to the final corner, with Repsol Honda's Pedrosa passing Lorenzo at the death to take the 25 points.

The 2010 world champion Lorenzo told BBC Sport: "We are so close in the championship that every point is important.

"When Dani was pushing a lot I was taking so many risks but I had to try for the win on the last lap.

"This time Dani was more clever and more brave so congratulations to him. Next time maybe it will be different."

British success

The last British rider to win a top-class GP was the late Barry Sheene in Sweden in 1981

Pedrosa's team-mate and defending champion Casey Stoner did not race, as he was back in Australia awaiting surgery on his broken ankle.

Stoner has not yet set a date for his comeback, but Honda have confirmed that Northern Irishman Jonathan Rea will stand in for him at the next two races if required.

In the early Moto3 race, Jonas Folger took his first win of the season with Luis Salom second and championship leader Sandro Cortese extending his overall lead by finishing third.

While in the Moto2 race, Briton Scott Redding crashed at the third corner as championship leader Marc Marquez took the win.

Czech Republic Grand Prix results:

1. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda 42:51.570

2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 42:51.748

3. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 43:03.913

4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Tech 3 Yamaha 43:10.161

5. Stefan Bradl (Ger) LCR Honda 43:17.152

6. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Gresini Honda 43:21.021

7. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Ducati 42:26.084

8. Randy de Puniet (Fra) ART 43:55.855

9. Karel Abraham (Cze) Cardion Ducati 43:59.848

10. Aleix Espargaro (Spa) ART 44:01.542