Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) qualified in fourth at MotorLand – only 0.015 off the front row – and the two-time GP winner made a good start to get away in the lead group before suffering a run off. Crutchlow was able to get back on track, but then later made a mistake when overtaking Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and slid out.
Nevertheless, the positive was the pace and there is now a little more time for the LCR rider’s finger – injured ahead of Misano – to recover before the next race.
Cal Crutchlow, DNF: "I didn’t have a great feeling with my front brake lever, simply because I couldn’t adjust it with my finger. The front brake temperature was really hot at the end of the back straight because I was tucked the slipstream, then when I got to turn one the lever was really far out and I couldn’t adjust it because the front straight isn’t long enough and I couldn’t take my hand off the handlebar. I made a mistake under braking because the lever was far away and as soon as I grabbed the brake I locked the front and ran wide, which was unfortunate.
“Then I got back on the track and recovered well, and I thought I might be able to come back across to the group. When I was riding alone I felt better. Then I made a mistake when I passed Johann into turn 14. I had to take evasive action because I had to pass him quite late – I hadn’t actually planned to make the move – then I lost the front. It was always the risk with the hard front tyre we chose. It’s disappointing end, but not so bad a weekend overall. The positive to take from this is that we were competitive yet again.”