MotoGP: Crutchlow: ‘I could have fought with Mav

Cal Crutchlow has come away from Sunday’s Argentinian Grand Prix pleased to have finally returned to the podium after a series of disastrous results – but disappointed that he wasn’t able to challenge for the race win after struggling with a technical problem for most of the race.

Finishing a race for the first time since he won the Australian Grand Prix back in October, the LCR Honda rider was on fine form during the 25-lap battle, doing well to maintain place behind race leader Maverick Viñales and to hold off the attentions of Valentino Rossi until the final stages of the race.

However, the Isle of Man resident told MCN after the race that while he was pleased with his performance he believes that if circumstances outside his control (the details of which he wouldn’t fully divulge) hadn’t played a factor, he could have challenged Viñales for the race win.

“It was an easy race, because I didn’t push too hard as I couldn’t brake how I wanted to brake. I think it was possible for me to beat Maverick, but I had to manage a situation. We knew that I would probably have to manage this, but it was very difficult throughout the race, especially when someone is on your arse like Vale was!

“Maverick came past and I tried to follow him and manage the situation, then I saw Vale +0, Vale +0, Vale +0 and knew I had to push – and the warning light came on. I slowed down, tried to manage the situation, but when Vale came past he seemed to have a little more grip than me.

“I wasn’t pushing so hard, but I had to do some tricks of the trade to make sure we finished the race – and I thought it would be a wise decision to finish after Qatar! I could do the same lap times, and I could have probably pushed across to Maverick, but I wouldn’t have finished the race if I’d done that.”