Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was feeling strong in Qatar before he crashed out of the season opener, and the Brit came to Argentina looking for some redemption that was duly found. The two-time GP winner got back on the podium as top Independent Team rider and top Honda, just losing second after a scrap with Italian legend Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP).
Crutchlow, who was last on the podium when he won at Phillip Island last year, also suffered through some issues in the Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina – with a warning light on his dash forcing a careful ride to bring it on home.
Cal Crutchlow, P3: “First of all, congratulations to Maverick and Vale. It’s fantastic to get a podium for the team after what happened in Qatar, but I had to manage the situation pretty much from the start – I had some warning light on the dash. But I didn’t panic, I could push, and when Maverick went past I thought ‘Ok I can manage the situation’ and I did…then I saw Vale plus zero, plus zero, and I started to push. Then the warning light came back so I had to back off. But I think we did well to manage the situation and bring the bike home on the podium after Qatar was a disaster when I felt so strong. So to start the season and have a podium already is good – the last time I finished a race was also on the podium!”