MotoGP Australia Phillip Island J3 Cal Crutchlow Conference: emotion, one year later, etc. (Entirety)

The conference held after the Australian Grand Prix brought together Marc Márquez, Cal Crutchlow and Jack Miller.

As usual, we report here the raw words of Cal Crutchlow, without the slightest journalistic interpretation.

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Cal, you were brilliant here, especially after last year you suffered a terrible crash at turn one. It must have been a strange feeling to return to this circuit a year later…

Cal Crutchlow : “yes, it was an excellent job on the part of my team. The LCR Honda Team did an excellent job this weekend with the little time we had available. I didn't have the perfect settings for the race but I managed it. During the warm-up I needed to try something better for the race. We also chose the wrong tire for the race but you only know that afterwards. I knew I could control the hard until the end and that I could have a good result with it, but I thought the soft was risky for me as I hadn't used it during the weekend except during the laps qualifying. And when these drivers overtook me, I knew their tires were better than mine. They could raise the bike a little more while mine was slipping. During the last five laps he was completely destroyed but I made sure I could finish. The gap was big behind me, which I just wandered around for the last 5 or 6 laps of the race. »

“Marc had an incredible race, as did Maverick! It's a shame he fell, but I took 2nd position. I think we did a good job after what happened here last year. Falls don't scare me. Normally, I get back in the saddle and immediately ride fast. But this fall last year kept me busy for a whole year. I wasn't happy when I arrived at this Grand Prix, thinking about that and what could happen. You know, it was a big fall and I had never been injured that badly before. In particular, this fall could have meant the end of my career. I even saw the surgeon who operated on me last year, he was there this morning. I thanked him for saving my career. Because honestly, at the start of the year, we didn't know at all if I would be able to drive. Now I have three podiums, again here at this Grand Prix, it's really very special. And it's great to be on the podium with these two guys. Jack is on the podium, with his war horse. It's not shiny armor, it looks like Bullet Man. Before the race, I called him and said “follow me, I’m going to leave”. Then, when I saw his leather, I said to myself that maybe it wasn't the best idea: he looks like Bullet Man and he's going to pass through us (laughs). We had fun, it was a good race, but we managed it well. »

How much energy did it take from you to make this podium?

“Honestly, we are struggling a little more with this year’s bike. We know last year's bike ran better. We are struggling with corner entry and engine braking. Obviously, Marc doesn't struggle as much, that's where we are: sometimes it (the bike) seems better, sometimes not. On this circuit I felt pretty good, and when I feel good I am able to attack. It's that simple ! That doesn't mean I don't attack in other races. I'm just not that fast. I had a good sixth place in Aragon and I should have won with Jack. I had a fifth place in Motegi last week, and now a second here. The last few races weren't bad at all. We must now focus on Malaysia and Valencia. And I’m already looking forward to the 2020 bike.”

What a superb result! Considering where you come from and after this weekend with crazy weather, how does it feel to be sitting in front of us today and being back at the top of the rankings?

“After what happened to me last year, it's great to come back to this track and get a podium here. I know I've been fast on this track before. Today I wasn't as fast as Marc and Maverick but I think I could have been with the right tire, or at least a lot closer. So… I had a good feeling on Friday in FP1 and FP2, and I knew a podium was possible. I didn't tell my team, but I knew I could fight well. When it was clear that these two guys were faster than me, I just dealt with the situation. I was with them for two or three rounds but it was difficult to stay with them. When I have the feeling with the bike, I can do it. But coming back from where I was last year… I've already had a few races this year where I felt good, but it's a big thing. It’s a big thing for me and we will try to do the same in Malaysia, but I think it will be a little more difficult.”

MotoGP Australian Grand Prix standings:

1	Marc Márquez	SPA	Repsol Honda (RC213V)	40m 43.729s
2	Cal Crutchlow	GBR	Honda LCR (RC213V)	+ 11.413s
3	Jack Miller	AUS	Bow Ducati (GP19)	+ 14.499s
4	Francis Bagnaia	ITA	Bow Ducati (GP18) *	+ 14.554s
5	Joan mir	SPA	Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) *	+ 14.817s
6	Andrea Iannone	ITA	Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)	+ 15.280s
7	Andrea Dovizioso	ITA	Ducati Team (GP19)	+ 15.294s
8	Valentino Rossi	ITA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	+ 15.841s
9	Alex Rins	SPA	Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)	+ 16.032s
10	Aleix Espargaró	SPA	Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)	+ 16.590s
11	Franco Morbidelli	ITA	Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)	+ 24.145s
12	Pol Espargaro	SPA	Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16)	+ 26.654s
13	Johann zarco	FRA	Honda LCR (RC213V)	+ 26.758s
14	Karel Abraham	CZE	Real Avintia Ducati (GP18)	+ 44.912s
15	Hafiz Syahrin	MAL	Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)	+ 44.968s
16	Jorge Lorenzo	SPA	Repsol Honda (RC213V)	+ 66.045s
	Maverick Vinales	SPA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	DNF
	Mika Kallio	END	Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16)	DNF
	Tito Rabat	SPA	Real Avintia Ducati (GP18)	DNF
	fabio quartararo	FRA	Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) *	DNF
	Danilo Petrucci	ITA	Ducati Team (GP19)	DNF

Photo credit : MotoGP.com