Cal Crutchlow, happy to have had a good time, got off his Honda at the end of this Dutch Grand Prix. A test with twists and turns for the Englishman. First modest qualifications, then an average start to the race before completely changing pace for the finish thanks to a light shower. For the one who renewed with his team for another two years, he had the hand to win the bet but he did not know how to manage the situation. The beauty in a week at the Sachsenring?
So many emotions! Cal Crutchlow did not have the opportunity to see the time spent on his RC213V surveying the Batavian lands. A Grand Prix in two parts. A first which revealed the weaknesses of his machine in its management of Michelin tires. Then a radically different second. All sprinkled with a secret setting... Here is the story of Cal in Holland!
« Because of my poor qualification, I found myself in the peloton. However, we know that with the Honda, we heat our front tire too much when we ride in a pack. Everything was better as soon as Dovizioso escaped with a second. I had fresh air on the front tire again and could control my sixth place ».
Then came the raindrops on the visor. Which cooled some drivers who slowed down. Cal Crutchlow was one of those who stayed at the same pace, thus keeping their tires warm. In a few laps, five seconds behind the duo Márquez-Dovizioso were fulfilled: given the pace I had, if I had started with the leading group, it was me who should have won this Grand Prix! But hey, honestly, without this downpour, I only finished sixth ».
Yet he missed the podium. The LCR pilot explains why: “ I gave up my game a round too early. I should have played my trump card in the last lap, Márquez would never have been able to get past me. But he understood as he followed me that the track was less wet than he feared. So he passed me again ».
No regrets though: “ it was nice, I fought with the reigning World Champion and with the now championship leader. This race was not bad unlike the previous two. This time I didn't encounter any problems ". An allusion to the tires, which have been severely criticized over the past two weeks.
Finally, at Crutchlow, we are always entitled to a supplement. Here it is : " I tried something on the bike, I raced with a setting that we had never tested before. I can't tell you what it is. We wanted to discover this on Friday, but we never had the time ". We even develop during the Grands Prix at Honda.
#DutchGP MotoGP Race: Ranking
1. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 41m 41.149s
2. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 41m 41.212s
3. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 41m 46.350s
4.
Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 41m 46.392s
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 41m 46.476s
6. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 42m 4.539s
7. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 42m 18.131s
8. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 42m 18.207s
9. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
42m 18.315s
10. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 42m 43.078s
11. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 42m 50.533s
12. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 42m 51.270s
13. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
42m 51.493s
14. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
43m 16.804s
15. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
+1 lap
16. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) +1 lap
17. alex rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* +1 lap
Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16)
DNF
Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) DNF
Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16)
DNF
Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)
DNF
Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
DNF
Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
DNF
