Nicolas Terol has taken his first victory of the season, and the second of his grand prix career, with a commanding performance in Sunday's 125cc Czech Republic Grand Prix,

Terol overhauled pole sitter Andrea Iannone at turn one, and the top two were soon setting a pace that only world championship leader Julian Simon was capable of matching.

By lap 5 of 19 the trio were already four seconds clear of fourth placed Bradley Smith, who had lost ground after a near highside whilst holding third on the opening lap.

Terol led the majority of the race with Simon and Iannone in close pursuit - until Iannone suddenly began losing ground with five laps to go.

Despite some awkwardly placed backmarkers, Simon began the last lap just 0.224sec behind Terol, but - wary of his commanding championship position - didn't force the issue and a wheel perfect Terol victory by 0.168sec for the Jack & Jones Aprilia team. Iannone confirmed third for Ongetta Aprilia.

Simon, who began the event 50 points clear of Aspar Aprilia team-mate Sergio Gadea, is now 54.5 points ahead of new nearest rival Terol.

Fellow Aspar rider Smith, 5.5 points down on Gadea at the start of the race, shook off his pursuers to spend much of the race in a lonely fourth place, and remains third in the championship (62.5 points from Simon).

Gadea was locked in the midst of an eight-man fight for fifth. The Spaniard steadily fought his way through the pack, but lost out on the last lap and crossed the line in ninth. Gadea has now slumped to fourth in the championship, but just 0.5 points behind Smith.

Race results - Brno:

1. Terol (Aprilia)
2. Simon (Aprilia) +0.168sec
3. Iannone (Aprilia) +8.719sec
4. Smith (Aprilia) +12.443sec
5. Espargaro (Derbi) +16.008sec
6. Cortese (Derbi) +16.066sec
7. Bradl (Aprilia) +17.105sec
8. Marquez (KTM) +17.202sec
9. Gadea (Aprilia) +17.223sec
10. Olive (Derbi) +17.244sec

15. Redding (Aprilia) +41.558sec
16. Webb (Aprilia) +43.098sec