History can be made with no warning – and that’s exactly what happened for LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow in Brno, as the British rider came from P10 on the grid, via P15 at the end of lap one, to storm through the field to the win. The LCR rider was one of only two in the field to have chosen a hard option tyre for both the front and rear – the other being Loris Baz (Avintia Racing) – and saw the rubber come into its own as the laps ticked on, catching the top ten and then the top five, and then finally overcoming then-leader Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) to take off at the front. The Brit never looked back, sitting up around the final corner for a relaxed stand-up wheelie trip over the finish line.
Crutchlow hasn’t had an easy first half to the season, but his fortunes began to change in the German GP as the LCR rider stood on the podium in the wet there. Following the birth of his first child, Willow, the dream mid-season continues with the win in Brno – replacing Barry Sheene as the most recent British winner of a premier class race.
Cal Crutchlow (P1): “The biggest emotion I ever had was three weeks ago when Willow was born - having said that it’s the best day of my racing career. But I’m really really pleased for my team. We worked hard for this and I took the gamble. Not many other people did and as far as I’m concerned they’re all wimps! I don’t know why if you choose one harder option you don’t choose the other. But anyway, we did the best job today and I’m so pleased for the team. I smashed a bike yesterday and they didn’t leave the circuit last night until midnight – so this was a good way to repay them today. I almost crashed at Turn 10 when I changed into sixth instead of fifth, but once I knew Valentino wasn’t coming – no one was coming for me – I just rode around and didn’t take risks. Don’t get me wrong – winning the race is incredible but I had the best present a couple of weeks ago.”