Last year, Cal Crutchlow was deprived of participating in the British Grand Prix following an ankle fracture in the qualifyings. So was the same regrettable fact repeating itself this year in Silverstone? That was what was feared by Tech3, the team supported by Motul, and by all the fans of the British rider, when he fell during the final practice session, on the eve of the race, on 16 June.
Despite a fractured ankle, the official doctors passed him fit to ride but, as he had missed the qualifyings, from the back row of the grid.Cal Crutchlow then used all his talent in the battle. In two laps he battled forward from 20th to 11th position before reaching 7th position by mid-race. He managed to pass Nicky Hayden in the last lap to clinch an incredible 6th place. 'I won't easily forget this weekend!' he exclaimed at the arrival. 'Yesterday was a disaster after my fall, I really thought I was going to miss my national race once more. (…) I never imagined I could get sixth position because normally if you start from the third row it's very difficult to get into that position...'
For Andrea Dovizioso, who also rides for Tech3, the race took place in better conditions and he was 3rd by mid-race, before a fall put an end to his hopes of a podium: 'It's a pity because I had the possibility of fighting for 2nd place. I fell just when I had clinched 3rd position and I knew I was going to finish on the podium. I'm very disappointed because I didn't expect the fall at all. It happened just when I felt most at ease on the bike and I wasn't pushing myself. I just made a little mistake by losing control of the rear. The team had done excellent work.' That kind of surprise is part of the hazards of racing... The next meet will take place on 30 June in Assen.
Standings
01// Jorge Lorenzo - Yamaha - 140 pts
02// Casey Stoner - Honda - 115 pts
03// Dani Pedrosa - Honda - 101 pts
04// Cal Crutchlow - Yamaha Tech3 - 66 pts - Motul
05// Andrea Dovizioso - Yamaha Tech3 - 60 pts - Motul
