Starting from pole position, LCR Honda rider Crutchlow was powerless to prevent Maverick Vinales sauntering to a maiden victory on Sunday, but spent the race fighting Rossi, Marquez and Andrea Iannone for second.

It was a battle that the Englishman ultimately won, with Iannone crashing out at Luffield, Rossi's pace fading late on and Marquez running wide at Stowe on the penultimate lap.

The result was a third podium finish in the space of four races, albeit the first in dry conditions following rain-affected races at the Sachensenring and Brno, where he took his first MotoGP win.

Asked how it felt to battle against Rossi and Marquez on merit, Crutchlow replied: "Surreal, because it never normally happens.

"But I’ve done it before in my career, I’ve been able to battle with these guys. I felt competitive, and I was able to do it with my package.

"Those opportunities don’t come often, so you have to take them when you can. I was stronger in quite a few areas than them, and I made it count."

Crutchlow added he feels he is currently on the best form of his MotoGP career, better even than in 2013 - his final season with Tech 3 Yamaha.

"I feel I’m at a good level," he said. "I would actually say I’m [riding] a little better than 2013, because the bike I’m on is not as competitive.

“It comes with confidence, just look at [Jorge] Lorenzo – his bike is the same as Vale’s, and I don’t think he’s suddenly lost it.”

Marquez contact

Crutchlow also revealed that he and fellow Honda rider Marquez made contact in their fight for second, as the Spaniard outbraked himself and clipped his rival before ending up in the tarmac run-off at Stowe.

Despite this, the 30-year-old said he felt the battle was a fair one.

"There was contact," recalled Crutchlow. "He hit me at 200mph. Not his fault, he didn’t mean to do it.

"The wing [of the bike] hit me, it actually hurt – gave me a dead leg! Then he pushed me wide, and I thought: 'I have to make this corner'.

"I think it was a fair fight. At the end of the day, I’m not one to complain about people’s manoeuvres. I’ve done them before, and I’ll do them again."