Cal Crutchlow escapes injury in high-speed test crash

Cal Crutchlow has walked away from a high-speed fourth gear crash in the early stages of today’s MotoGP test session at the Catalunya circuit in Spain.

The British rider was on only his second fast lap when he lost the front of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine at Turn 4.

CCTV images beamed into the media centre showed debris spread over a huge area, with some parts of his destroyed bike clearing the perimeter fence.

Crutchlow lay motionless in the gravel for a few seconds before gingerly getting to his feet, but the 26-year-old has luckily walked away with only a large graze on his right thigh and a cut on his shoulder.

Crutchlow, who finished fifth in yesterday’s 25-lap Catalunya Grand Prix, believes he hit a damp patch on the track in the braking zone.

Heavy overnight rain delayed the start of testing with several damp patches scattered around the Catalunya track and Ducati rider Karel Abraham was caught out and crashed on his out lap earlier in the morning.

Speaking to MCN, Crutchlow said: “It was like a crash in the wet. I was bolt upright and the split second I went for the brakes I was down. I got thrown a long way and there is basically nothing left of the bike. Luckily I am not hurt because it was fourth gear and really fast, so it could have been a lot worse.”