Rain stopped play in the Moto2 race and forced a re-start that was claimed by Thomas Luthi with EG 0,0 Marc VDS’s Alex Marquez fiery through the short six lap sprint to walk the second step of the box. The disruption affected championship leader Franco Morbidelli as the Italian could only make it to eighth. Fellow VR46 Academy-mate Pecco Bagnaia was vying for victory in the first stage and sealed seventh spot at the second bite of the cherry. It was perhaps Forward Racing’s Luca Marini who wore the biggest smile; fourth place represented a career-best in what is arguably the most ruthlessly competitive division in Grand Prix. Brno saw Joan Mir take another step towards Moto3 title glory with the Spaniard’s sixth success of 2017. Estrella Galicia’s 0,0 Aron Canet made Parc Ferme with third.
With MotoGP hitting the midway marker the championship standings are still excitingly close. 22 points split Marquez at the top of the table and Rossi in fourth with Viñales second and Andrea Dovizioso still in the battle in third. MotoGP now heads directly to the fastest circuit on the calendar with the picturesque hills of Spielberg, Austria set to reverb to the thunderous engine howl of Grand Prix for the second year in a row.