Dovi wins as Marquez retires

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) has become the first rider to win four races this season after a brilliant victory at Silverstone ahead of Movistar Yamaha teammates Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi.

Meanwhile, a DNF for reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) with an engine problem has again tightened up the race for the 2017 MotoGP title. Dovizioso leads on 183pts, ahead of Marquez (174), Vinales (170), Rossi (157) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda, 148).

The race saw Rossi bolt off the line, with Marquez leading a close five-rider train with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda), Viñales, Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) and Dovizioso.

Lorenzo soon dropped off the chasing pack, and then a puff of smoke from Marquez's factory Honda ended his day.

That left four and, having played his hand to perfection, Dovizioso was able to keep the advantage to the line ahead of the two Yamahas.

Crutchlow, not quite able to get close enough to make his move, took fourth, from Lorenzo, Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Pedrosa and Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Ducati).

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) equalled his best rookie result in ninth, ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati).

“I’m so happy about today’s victory, my fourth this year, because every race we win is different from the others, and this means that we are really strong and can fight for the championship," said Dovizioso.

"It was a really tough race because all of our rivals were on top form. Today Marquez was unlucky, but we did a perfect race because, even though we were probably not the quickest outright, we were able to interpret it in the best possible way and go on to win.

"This means that the work we did during the weekend was excellent, and so was my race strategy because I managed to get into the right position at the right time. This year every race is a story in itself and the tyres are always a key factor, but we are very focused on our working method which is producing results.”

Australia's Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda) was 16th.

“In the race I struggled to find rear drive grip and it is not easy to understand why, maybe it was because of the hotter track temperatures compared to practice and qualifying," said Miller.

"It is a real shame and I’m very disappointed with this race. This should have been a great day to pick up some points and now we just have keep working to recover from this slump at the next race.”

MotoGP results
1. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team, 40:45.496
2. Maverick Vinales, Movistar Yamaha, +0.114s
3. Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha, +0.749s

Australian
16. Jack Miller, EG 0,0 Marc VDS, +43.012

Pole position: Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda, 1:59.941 = 177km/h
Fastest lap and new record: Marquez 2:01.560 = 174.7km/h

Championship top 3
Dovizioso 183 • Marquez 174 • Vinales 170

Moto2
Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) took his second ever Moto2 win in fine style. The Japanese rider, who will join Cal Crutchlow in the LCR Honda MotoGP team in 2018, chased down championship leader Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to take over at the front.

Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) was also able to charge past his compatriot to take second, with Morbidelli completing the podium in third.

Tom Lüthi (CarXpert Interwetten) – another recently announced addition to the 2018 MotoGP grid – took fourth, which allowed Morbidelli to eke out his championship lead to 29pts over the Swiss rider.

Top rookie Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) completed the top five ahead of Italian compatriot Simone Corsi (Speed Up Racing).

Front row starter Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) crashed out while battling with Morbidelli for the lead.

Australia's Remy Gardner was disappointed with his 20th place.

"I was feeling confident after Free Practice and really felt we could fight for the top 10 this weekend," said Gardner."I cannot hide how disappointed I am with today’s result. The first couple of laps went really well and the bike felt good.

"After five laps the rear tyre grip started to drop off and then the front started to suffer too. I couldn’t open the throttle where I wanted so it was a bit of a challenge as the race was long but I did what I could."

Moto2 results
1. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda Team Asia, 38:20.883
2. Mattia Pasini, Italtrans Racing Team, +0.724s
3. Franco Morbidelli, EG 0,0 Marc VDS, +2.678s

Australian
20. Remy Gardner, Tech 3 Racing, +30.825s

Pole position: Pasini, 2:06.572 = 167.8km/h
Fastest lap and new record: Morbidelli, 2:06.690 = 167.6km/h

Championship top 3
Morbidelli 223 • Luthi 194 • Alex Marquez 155

Moto3
Another massive Moto3 freight train – covering almost the entire field – saw Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda) come out on top ahead of his teammate Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3 Honda).

As the last lap dawned, it was Canet across the line first – and that proved critical. An incident further back in the pack on that final lap brought out the red flag, meaning positions would ultimately be decided by where the pack crossed the line on lap 16 of 17.

Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Racing Team KTM) took fourth, just ahead of championship leader Joan Mir (Leopard Racing Honda).

Polesitter Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers Honda) was seventh in a race which saw the top 20 finishers separated by just 4.597 seconds!

Canet has now taken over second in the standings from Fenati.

Moto3 results
1. Aron Canet, EG 0,0 Honda, 35:53.028
2. Enea Bastianinil, EG 0,0 Honda, +0.063s
3. Jorge Martin, Del Conca Gresini Honda, +0.111s

Pole position: Romano Fenati, Marinelli Rivacold Snipers Honda, 2:12.846 = 159.8km/h
Fastest lap and new record: Martin, 2:13.025 = 159.6km/h

Championship top 3
Mir 226 • Canet 162 • Fenati 160

Next round: Misano, San Marino, September 8-10