Arm pain no concern for Cal Crutchlow in Sepang

Cal Crutchlow isn’t worried that pain in the right arm he first damaged in a crash strewn home race at Silverstone last month will be a major issue in tomorrow’s Malaysian MotoGP clash.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider has suffered with severe swelling on his right arm after the first of three bruising crashes in the British Grand Prix.

But having come through the recent Misano and Motorland Aragon races without any pain, he was surprised to be in some discomfort when riding in the searing heat and humidity at Sepang.

In yesterday’s opening practice session, Crutchlow was struggling just to muscle his YZR-M1 machine around the long and technical Sepang track.

The arm is still full of fluid that can’t be drained and Crutchlow is preparing to have surgery immediately after his much-anticipated Ducati debut next month in Valencia.

The 27-year-old stormed to his seventh front row grid position of 2013 in Sepang earlier today with a best lap of 2.00.359 putting him just 0.325s away from a third career pole position.

Crutchlow though doesn’t believe the arm will be a major issue in tomorrow’s 20-lap race and he said: “When I crashed at Silverstone I had some sort of explosion in the right arm when I hit the kerb and the swelling is quite big and there is a lot of fluid in there and it won’t come out.

“I still have a skin burn that hasn’t healed yet but I had no pain in Misano and Aragon but it seems here maybe with the heat that I have a bit more pain but it seems to be coming better.

“I have no idea how it will be in the race, but really I don’t have too many problems. It is coming better the more I ride. It is coming bigger but it is also coming better. I really don’t know and it is not physically demanding on the arm, it is more physically demanding because it is so hot and humid. I don’t think it should be a problem for the race.”