Phillip Island: Keep Cal(m) and carry on!

Brno was wet and the right tyre choice paid off. Phillip Island, although practice was interrupted by weather, was a dry race – and it was Czech GP winner Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) who took the flag once again for a stunning second career win. With Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashing out from the lead after he pushed too hard following the title win in Motegi, it seemed that Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was on to spoil Crutchlow’s party – but the Italian couldn’t catch him. Managing the tyres to perfection pushing hard when the sun went in to keep the heat in the rubber, Crutchlow had already said he wanted to win in Phillip Island - but until the flag no one had believed him.

Q1 was filled with big names in Australia. Rossi and teammate Jorge Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Silverstone winner Maverick Viñales were all down out the top 10 after FP3 – and it was Lorenzo and Crutchlow who got through, leaving Rossi in his worst qualifying position since 2011 in P15, and Viñales only just ahead. With limited dry time in the Warm Up to perfect setup however, the numbers 46 and 25 more than made up for their starting positions.

After his appearance for Jack Miller at Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS in Aragon, MotoGP™ Legend Nicky Hayden had sworn no more one-offs – but found himself offered the chance to ride as Marquez’ teammate on the Island with Dani Pedrosa still out of action following his highside in Motegi. Impressive and even topping a session, Hayden was in the fight for P7 before a move from Miller put paid to his chances and he crashed out – but once again did himself proud with the performance.

With weather haunting the paddock, next up was Sepang – and the always-predictable climate of Malaysia. Right?