Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) made the same move as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) on the grid at the Qatar GP, and changed from his preferred hard front tyre to the medium option given the later hour and lower ambient temperature. That proved a wrong decision, and the Brit went a little wide once the delayed 20-lap race was underway - crashing out at the final corner.
Trying his best to carry on, the two-time GP winner’s machine was too damaged to make it to the end of the race, with a second crash sending Crutchlow to Argentina with a DNF he’ll be sure to push hard to put behind him.
Cal Crutchlow: “I changed the front tyre on the grid, the same as Marc (Marquez), and we shouldn’t have. The medium tyre was way too soft on the front for us, but we were forced into changing because the race was later and they were concerned about the dew. It was completely the wrong decision for us, but it was sort of taken out of our hands.
“I started the race from a good position, but I had contact with Valentino (Rossi) on the first lap. I didn’t think anything of it, but riding behind the other guys was almost impossible as the front tyre was way too hot. I went off line a tiny bit at the final corner and crashed, but I got back on. I shouldn’t have really, as the handlebar was bent and there was mud on the grip.
“But I have a never-say-die attitude and wanted to finish the race, but the second crash was because the bike was already damaged. I am sorry for my team, we had a similar start last season.”