MotoGP: Crutchlow targeted Phillip Island from start of the season

Cal Crutchlow has admitted that he targeted victory at last weekend’s Phillip Island round of the 2016 MotoGP season, knowing from the start of the year that it would be possible to take victory there if the stars aligned.

Targeting podiums at Silverstone and Brno as well as success means that the Brit has now outdone himself with his second win of the year – but he told MCN after the race that the Australian success came as no surprise.

“There’s no doubt that I’m in a good moment in my career. I said that a few rounds ago, so I guess that means it’s getting even better. I targeted a few races this year and said I wanted to be on the podium there, and I’ve had a really good year. Someone asked me last week what I thought about going to Phillip Island and I said I planned to win – and they didn’t believe me, but that was the plan.

“You’re still going to get Marc fans saying that he crashed, or Valentino fans saying he started fifteenth. That’s the way of the world. I don’t care though – I started second, went back to seventh, and still won. I knew I could win at Phillip Island though. That’s not arrogance, but I knew coming into the weekend knowing that it was possible.  Maybe we’ll go to the next few races and we won’t be as fast, but I’ll give my 100% and on Sunday that was enough to win.”

But there was one little taste of regret for him in Australia, taking the second Grand Prix win of his career – and once again having wife Lucy and new baby Willow back at home in the Isle of Man.

“Brno was special because it was my first, and because I felt good on those conditions, but this one was special because it was my first dry win. The two feel the same, but I wasn’t hugely emotional afterwards – I was more emotional because Lucy and Willow couldn’t be there for it. There are going to be plenty more times when I can try and win a race that they can be there for though!”