Crutchlow: “I had to make sure I wasn’t 12th!”

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) had a slightly more adventurous birthday than intended at the Malaysian GP, as the Phillip Island winner went through Q1 before a crash in Q2 almost halted his qualifying hopes. Picking the bike up and pushing on for another lap, the Brit was able to show his wet weather prowess on his final attempt, crossing the line to take a second row start despite what had seemed like a disaster - with the bike not in the best shape but the laptime solid. Crutchlow's wet weather pace was also impressive on a healthy LCR Honda in FP4, as he ended the session just nudged off the top spot by reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).

Cal Crutchlow (P5): “I think today we salvaged a second-row position after a disastrous qualifying for me when I crashed in the really tricky conditions. Everybody was completely at the limit and the tyres weren’t working so well in the hotter conditions. In FP4 they were fantastic, then in the Q1 session they were getting worse and by Q2 worse again. I made a mistake in Q2 by slipping off, and I think I did well to get back on the bike because the handlebar was totally bent and the brake lever completely pointing down. To ride the bike with the handlebar as bad as this and still improve the lap time was quite good, but a little dangerous, so I don’t plan on doing it again! I had to make sure I wasn’t 12th on the grid though. Now we have to look forward to tomorrow, we have good pace in the dry and good pace in the rain too so, let’s see what happens.”