The satellite Yamaha of Cal Crutchlow prepares to put the pass on the factory Yamaha of Valentino Rossi. Image: MotoGP.com.

A battered and bruised Cal Crutchlow fought gallantly to secure another second place finish at the Sachsenring in Germany, becoming the first British rider to score four podium finishes in a season since the late, great Barry Sheene in 1982.

Crutchlow battled the immense discomfort of numerous cuts, bruises and friction burns sustained in two heavy practice crashes, coming back from a sluggish start to launch a serious challenge for the lead of the race.

The 27-year-old picked off place after place after dropping to sixth in the early running and enjoyed a spirited battle with Valentino Rossi before moving by with a clean, forceful past on the rider running the favoured factory machinery.

“I actually made a really good start but I had to roll off the throttle when Marc came towards me and that cost me a few places,” explained Crutchlow.

“The bike worked really well in the first few laps and I was able to fight my way through and I really enjoyed it. In the second half of the race the bike felt great and I was fast.

“I came on strong and pulled away from Valentino and I did absolutely everything I could to close down Marc.”

Crutchlow pressured Marquez but found himself unable to bridge the final 1.5-second gap to the Honda rider who had held the lead from the early stages.

“I couldn’t have done anything more but credit to him because he didn’t make a mistake,” said Crutchlow.

“He controlled the gap to me very well and he deserved to win. I just kept on pushing and at the end second is another fantastic result.”

With momentum behind him, the Monster Tech3 man is eager to hit the ground running and challenge for a fifth successive podium when MotoGP moves to Laguna Seca this weekend.

“It is my fourth podium and I am not so far back in the championship, so I can’t really ask for anything more,” he added. “Now we go to Laguna trying to fight for another podium and hopefully that first win.”

Crutchlow is now a comfortable fourth in the world title race, 20 points shy of Jorge Lorenzo and six points clear of Rossi.