Marc Marquez swept to his third win of the 2017 MotoGP season in Sunday’s Czech Republic Grand Prix after perfecting the switch from wet to slick tires and leapfrogging the field when they pitted.
Marquez started from pole at Brno, only to drop back through the field after electing to fit his Repsol Honda bike with soft wet rear tire.
The Spaniard was brought into the pits to make the switch for slicks early, with a drying line soon appearing and the rest of the field following suit in the laps that followed.
Marquez had been able to lay down a quick enough pace in order to vault to the front of the pack once the likes of Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi and Johann Zarco had pitted, regaining P1 on Lap 6 and staying out in front to the checkered flag.
Marquez ultimately crossed the line with a 12-second advantage over Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, while Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales was a further six seconds back in third place.
Valentino Rossi took P4 after a late pass on Cal Crutchlow, the Honda satellite rider left to settle for fifth ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci.
Brothers Aleix and Pol Espargaro were eighth and ninth respectively, while Jonas Folger completed the top 10 for Tech3. Despite leading early on, Ducati’s Lorenzo eventually finished 40 seconds back in 15th place.
Marquez’s victory extends his championship advantage to 14 points over Viñales, with Dovizioso sitting a further seven back for Ducati in third.