Qatar MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow aims for maiden rostrum

British fans who have waited over a decade for a British rider to claim a MotoGP podium might only have to wait another few hours after Cal Crutchlow qualified on the front row of the grid for tonight’s season opening 1000cc clash in Qatar.

The 26-year-old was in sensational form last night to finish third quickest behind Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner in a dramatic qualifying session.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider secured his maiden front row start with a best of 1.55.022 to finish just 0.388s behind impressive factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo in pole.

You have go to back to the British Grand Prix at Donington Park in 2000 for the last time a British rider claimed a premier class rostrum when Jeremy McWilliams claimed third on an Aprilia 500cc two-stroke.

Crutchlow did his best again to play down expectations that he can end the long drought in tonight’s 22-lap race after his brilliant qualifying display.

Speaking to MCN he said: “I am happy and we go into the race more comfortable and confident. I’d say my race pace is around fourth to sixth because I think the satellite bike uses the rear tyre a bit more than the others but there is no reason why we can’t hang in there for a while if we get a good start.

“You can break here, especially if you go with Casey because he can ride a new tyre hard straightaway and get heat into it and if you can tag on with that, some of the guys behind can take longer to push on. 

“To be top satellite bike is what I’ve wanted to be and I couldn’t have done much more. There is no stopping Lorenzo and he did a phenomenal lap, no doubt about that.

“I’d say per lap I’m probably three to four-tenths off what they can do but that is a lot better than last year. I’ll try my best and see what I can do. Being on the front row, does that mean I can fight for a podium?

“I don’t know because it will be hard to beat Dani (Pedrosa) and Ben (Spies). Don’t forget Nicky (Hayden) and Valentino (Rossi) too. I know they look far off but their race pace isn’t that bad so you can never rule them out.

“I feel confident that I can do the pace on my own. Every fast lap I did on my own, so does that mean in the race I can stay with them? I don’t know but I will be giving it my best shot. We’ve worked hard this winter and this is a pay back for all that work we have done.”