British Grand Prix: Suzuki’s Vinales grabs first career win

21-year-old Spanish rider is followed by Crutchlow, Rossi

SILVERSTONE: Spaniard Maverick Vinales rode a masterful race to secure his first ever MotoGP victory, easing to take the chequered flag in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone yesterday.

The 21-year-old — the 2013 Moto3 world champion — gave Suzuki its first win in the race in this category since American Kevin Schwantz in 1994.

Vinales led home Honda’s Cal Crutchlow — the first Briton since Barry Sheene in 1977 to take pole — with legendary Italian Valentino Rossi third on his Yamaha.



Rossi marginally reduced Marc Marquez’ lead in the overall standings, the Spaniard holding a 50-point advantage over the Italian, with 210 points to his 160.

The race had to be reduced to 19 laps after it was halted following a brutal first-lap collision between French rider Loris Baz and Pol Espargaro of Spain.



Baz, on a Ducati, and Espargaro on a Yamaha Tech3 were at the back of the field but debris from their bikes littered the corner and the track.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2016.

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