Cal Crutchlow targets podium return in Misano

Cal Crutchlow is confident success starved British fans won’t have to wait too long for another MotoGP podium success as he goes in search of a second successive top three in Misano this weekend.

The Coventry rider made a huge career breakthrough in Brno last month when he became the first British rider in 12 years to stand on a MotoGP rostrum.

It was an incredible 4432 days between Jeremy McWilliams finishing third in the 2000 British Grand Prix at Donington Park and Crutchlow’s stunning third behind Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo in the Czech Republic.

The 26-year-old though is determined that British fans aren’t kept waiting long for a repeat of his success as he targets another top three in Misano this weekend.

Crutchlow told MCN: “It has been great to get that first British podium in such a long time. I’ve rode well this year without being spectacular but it was nice to finally get that podium that everyone else wanted as much as I did.

“We can go into the final part of the season expecting some more and hopefully we can do well at Misano.

“Was it expected? After the way last year went then definitely not. So that makes it even sweeter for me but I am not hung up on it. I’ve got other goals in racing and in MotoGP and the next will be to go out and get another podium.

“I’ve got a lot of determination to go and do it again in Misano. I’ll go to Misano as a new man – a podium man and that has given me a lot of confidence.”

After a tough rookie campaign in 2011, talk of a podium for Crutchlow this year seemed to be a fantasy notion.

Yet he has turned himself into a model of consistency this season with only one non-finish and with six races remaining he sits in fifth place in the world championship standings with only two finishes outside of the top six.

He added: “After the last race of 2011 I went to my motorhome in Valencia knowing that two days later the 1000s were coming out and I knew that it was going to be now or never to make things work and I came out and was strong in the top three at the test.

“I had a good winter and got much more consistent. I always knew I had the capability of doing well this year and a podium was my aim. So from now on I suppose fighting for that podium on a consistent basis has got to be the aim.”