Source: Supplied.

Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) has has broken through for a historic first win for Suzuki since their return to the championship, as the 2013 Moto3 world champion became the seventh winner in 2016 to claim the British Grand Prix.

Viñales, who got his first podium in Le Mans in the French GP, got a front row start and simply pulled away once away in the lead – putting in an incredible performance to cross the line 3.4 seconds clear.

After an almighty battle behind, it was home hero and pole sitter Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) who completed the podium.

It was a fitting race for Rossi’s 20th start in the premier class, as he became the first rider to hit the milestone. There was Lap one drama as the Octo British Grand Prix got underway, with rain threatening the grid and bike swaps practiced in morning Warm Up.

With the initial lights out it was Viñales at the front, before an incident between Loris Baz (Avintia Racing) and Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha tech 3) brought out the red flag and the two riders went to the medical center.

On the restart, the front row of the grid of Crutchlow, Rossi and Viñales fought for the lead, with Crutchlow taking the position early before Viñales got through to pull away.

With Viñales away at the front, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) led a five bike train of Rossi, Crutchlow, Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) and Marquez’ teammate Dani Pedrosa in the chase.

Reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) would have have a difficult race as he circulated in P8 despite his stunning record at the British venue. Rossi would take over in P2, as Viñales was still over two seconds clear and the chase was on.

Iannone, after making his way to the front of the chasing group, then lost his Ducati with six laps to go and suffered a DNF, leaving Crutchlow in P2 and Rossi and Marquez to duel it out.

With the Italian and the Spaniard the two men at the top of the championship – although Marquez 53 points clear – it was a battle royale for points, pride and supremacy as the two fought.

With characteristic hard racing and some incredible moves from each, Marquez eventually broke away from his Italian title rival to close on Crutchlow – before running deep and dropping back behind teammate Pedrosa into P5, into another battle that he just won to come home P4.

Pedrosa had a calmer ride than his teammate to the top five, but looked to have made an incredible leap forward in the setup of his Repsol Honda as he got back to running in the front group at the British GP.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) came home P6 in a solid ride despite having twisted his knee in a testing crash ahead of the event, with Aleix Espargaro on the second Team Suzuki Ecstar similarly riding after a recent hand injury to come home P7.

Five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo crossed the line eighth after struggling for grip, with Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) and Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completing the top ten.

Home hero Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) was the last to cross the line after a crash, with compatriot and replacement rider Alex Lowes coming home in P13 on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in a solid first MotoGP performance.

Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) finished in 16th position, as the Australian is still overcoming injuries sustained at the Austrain Grand Prix.

Thomas Luthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) would take the win in the Moto2 category at the British GP, despite coming off an injury that forced him out of the previous round.

Franco Morbidelli (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) and Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) were awarded second an third respectively following a turn of events of which saw Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) and polesitter Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) collide in the closing laps.

The incident would see defending champion Zarco handed a 30-second penalty, ruling him out of a points paying position.

Australian Remy Gardener (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) concluded the weekend in 20th position, and also announced his newly signed deal for 2017 with the Tech3 Yamaha team.

In the minor category, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) extended his Moto3 championship lead with the British Grand Prix victory, completing the weekend ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (PULL&BEAR Aspar Mahindra) and Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0) lost valuable points to series leader Binder after being taken down in the closing laps by Stefano Manzi (PULL&BEAR Aspar Mahindra). Despite recovering from the crash, he was unable to score points.