Yesterday, Monster Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow signed a new, one-year deal to remain with Herve Poncharal's team in 2013 alongide Bradley Smith and with that done, promptly took Britain's first premier-class podium in 12 years.

The Isle of Man resident left the line in second, got into the first turn third and stayed there when podium rival Ben Spies experienced a slipping clutch and scythed his way backwards while Andrea Dovizioso simply couldn't keep up.

What can I say, I think it was expected at some point, it's nice to finally take it here, it wasn't a thrilling battle, but in my own head I'd say it was probably better than having a battle anyway, because I stayed consistent for the whole race, I never moved from 56.9, apart from some 57.2s, and that was about it," said Crutchlow, speaking to bikesportnews.com

"I was back into the 56.9s toward the end, and I was pleased. I made one mistake, with seven laps to go I ran a little bit wide at Turn 3, but the gap never came down that lap either. Because I ran wide, I put in the next couple of sectors quite hard, and kept the gap the same.

"After so much stuff that's been going on this year, and that's gone on in the last few months, I think it's nice to finally get that podium, and finally come away from here with a new signed contract, a front row and a podium. A good strong race.

If Casey was here, then maybe it would have been fourth, I don't know. So to beat Dovi here this weekend was good as well, because he finished second to Casey here last year. It shows that he's come very strong with the Yamaha, and it shows that we're coming strong as well. It's a bit of both, a bit of relief, but also the pressure's off, I've done it. We can now go to Misano happy, because we've sort of finally done what we needed to do."