Cal Crutchlow bemoans speed on new tyres

When he was riding for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team in 2013, Cal Crutchlow was famed for his ability to post blisteringly quick lap times on brand new Bridgestone tyres.

But when he moved to Ducati last year, it was one strong point of Crutchlow’s that suddenly vanished on the unforgiving Desmosedici GP14.

And this week’s three-day Sepang test in Malaysia has shown he still can’t improve his pace on fresh rubber on the CWM LCR Honda RC213V.

The British rider finished 11^th fastest overall with a personal best time of 2.00.536. Crutchlow was content with his speed on worn tyres, but admitted he still can’t capitalise on the grip offered by a new set of Bridgestone tyres.

Speaking exclusively to MCN in the Sepang paddock this afternoon, he said: “I’m pleased with how today has gone. My lap time is ridiculous and the position is no good but I can guarantee that’s not where I’d finish if there were a race here today. I am still learning the bike and I can’t take the benefit from a new tyre at all. I’m only two or three tenths off the pace of the other Hondas on used tyres but I can’t knock off the time they do when they go out on fresh tyres. I’m just not close enough over one fast lap.”

Crutchlow reckons it is the heatproof tyres that Bridgestone introduced for 2014 that is behind his sudden loss of pace on new tyres.

The 29-year-old added: “The heatproof tyres didn’t suit me last year and they still don’t. I spent years trying to ride like (Jorge) Lorenzo and that’s what he struggled with last year. It was more difficult for him to do a fast lap because he likes to carry the corner speed and lean angle and he couldn’t. And now it is like a double whammy for me because you have to pick the bike up a lot more. On the Honda you can’t carry corner speed and you have to open the throttle later as well, so I don’t get the advantage I once had. I used to be good because I had side grip and could carry the corner speed. But the Honda doesn’t have good side grip and the tyres don’t. But I am not too concerned and if we went to Qatar today we’d be a lot further up. I am not here to set the world alight. I feel rusty and today was the first time I started to enjoy riding the bike.”