MotoGP: Disappointing end after crash for Crutchlow

Cal Crutchlow has suffered a disappointing end to Sunday’s Aragon Grand Prix race, after the British racer crashed out of contention for a strong top six finish on the LCR Honda machine.

Running with the pack that eventually closed down Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales for fourth, he looked set to be in for a good result until first a mistake that left him off the track and then a crash ended any hopes of a strong finish for him at one of Honda’s favoured circuits.

“I didn’t have a great feeling with my front brake lever, simply because I couldn’t adjust it with my finger. The front brake temperature was really hot at the end of the back straight because I was tucked the slipstream, then when I got to turn one the lever was really far out and I couldn’t adjust it because the front straight isn’t long enough and I couldn’t take my hand off the handlebar.

“I made a mistake under braking because the lever was far away and as soon as I grabbed the brake I locked the front and ran wide, which was unfortunate.”

And, with the mistake leaving him scrambling for position again, it didn’t take much for Crutchlow to tumble unhurt out of the race.

“Then I got back on the track and recovered well, and I thought I might be able to come back across to the group. When I was riding alone I felt better. Then I made a mistake when I passed Johann into turn 14. I had to take evasive action because I had to pass him quite late – I hadn’t actually planned to make the move – then I lost the front. It was always the risk with the hard front tyre we chose.

“It’s disappointing end, but not so bad a weekend overall. The positive to take from this is that we were competitive yet again.”