Rins pips Marquez to win spectacular British Grand Prix

SUZUKI’S Alex Rins claimed his second victory of the year in emphatic fashion after edging out Marc Marquez by just 0.013 seconds.

The Spanish duo had been engaged in a race-long battle that culminated in the young Suzuki Rider making a last-ditch move around Woodcote and out dragging the championship leader on the final straight.

Marquez started strongly, converting pole position into an early lead as drama behind led to Frenchman Fabio Quartararo high siding out of Copse corner, leaving Championship contender Andrea Dovizioso nowhere to go as his bike hit the stricken Yamaha and vaulted into the air.

Both riders avoided serious injury, however, Dovizioso was later transferred to hospital as he explained that he briefly lost consciousness during the incident.

This allowed Rins to move from fifth to third and confidently overtake Valentino Rossi on lap two and then start to close down on Marquez.

The pair would swap positions throughout the race, with Rins looking to have slightly more pace than Marquez throughout. 

After a tense last lap, Rins got the incredible drive out of Luffield and forced his GSX-RR underneath Marquez to claim victory in one of the closest margins for a number of years.

Monster Energy Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales picked off Rossi in the early stages and rode to a consistent third to complete the podium.

The only British rider on the grid, LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow scored a strong result bringing his Honda RC213V home in sixth. 

Dovizioso’s accident gifts Marquez a now 78 point lead in the championship with seven rounds remaining.