Marc Marquez was rewarded for a bold early tyre change as he strengthened his grip on top spot in the MotoGP riders' standings with victory in the Czech Republic Grand Prix.

The Spaniard started on pole on soft wet tyres in Brno but found himself falling back through the field before electing to pit for slicks after just three laps in changing conditions.

That move caught the rest of the field napping and Marquez was soon lapping 10 seconds quicker than the frontrunners, who were slow to react to the Repsol Honda rider's masterstroke.

With title rivals Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso left playing catch-up, Marquez was able to strengthen his grip on first place and crossed the line 12.438 seconds clear of closest challenger and team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Vinales came home in third, while Dovizioso had to settle for sixth, behind Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow, whose battle for fourth was the focal point for much of the late action.

The result sees Marquez - collecting his third win of the season - stretch his lead over Vinales at the top of the drivers' standings to 14 points after 10 races, while Dovizioso is now 21 points adrift of the three-time champion.

Further down the order, Aleix Espargaro was eighth after being handed a three-place penalty for his role in a pit-lane incident that saw Andrea Iannone come off his bike.