Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) disappointed: "It's undriveable" / MotoGP

Day one of the Australian GP at Phillip Island did not go to plan for Cal Crutchlow. The Yamaha rider was stranded in 18th place and was extremely disappointed afterwards. “The worst day,” he was sure.

Cal Crutchlow won the 2016 MotoGP race at Phillip Island, as well as being on the podium in two other races at the 4.448km circuit. So the Yamaha rider knows his way around the island, but it was still a very difficult day for him Down Under. The three-time GP winner lost 0.731 seconds to Johann Zarco (Ducati), who set the best time on Friday.

“It was probably my worst experience at Phillip Island. I didn’t feel comfortable with the bike at all. It was very unstable and it didn’t do what I wanted », the Englishman was annoyed in the afternoon. “I’m one of those guys who know exactly how to drive, especially on this track. After some bad races I always came here and felt good. It didn’t work this time.”

If it was that bad, what could have been the reason? Fabio Quartararo drove the M1 in 4th place. “The wind has a major impact on handling, because the bike is high and the fairing is very large. We have to improve the behavior because the bike is currently unridable for a long time,” Crutchlow emphasized.

Welcome to the Phillip Island race weekend

Francesco Bagnaia and Casey Stoner

Marc Márquez

Miguel Oliveira

Aleix Espargaró

fabio quartararo

Maverick Vinales

Jack Miller

johann zarco

The distance

Enea Bastianini

fabio quartararo

Marco Bezzecchi

Brad Binder

Francesco Bagnaia

Marc Márquez

Jack Miller

Alex Rins

George Martin

johann zarco

Pol Espargaro

Marc Márquez

Brad Binder

«Fabio seems to be doing very well. He’s better than in the past. But there are other riders on the bike – the other Yamaha guys also have problems,” the 36-year-old clarified. “I expected to approach this track like I always do and then everything will be fine. But I’m two seconds too slow.”

The Yamaha test rider continues: “The lap time at the end felt like a 1:26, but in reality it was a 1:30 lap. I used so much energy for this time. That shouldn’t be the case here, because here it’s all about taking the momentum out of the corners and playing with the gas. Unfortunately, I don’t get out of the corners well. I rode the Yamaha here and was on the podium with it. I know how it feels to drive faster.”

“For me it was probably the worst day since my comeback,” Crutchlow summarized. «I even had trouble keeping the line on the straight. I was expecting something much better. Still, I’m optimistic because if we change a few things, I can be quick here.”

MotoGP result FP2, Phillip Island (14/10):

1. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 29.475 min
2. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 0.038 sec
3. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +0.052
4. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,139
5. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.270
6. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0.300
7. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.357
8. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.363
9. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.374
10. Martin, Ducati, +0.406
11. Oliveira, KTM, + 0.448
12. Mir, Suzuki, + 0,469
13. Miller, Ducati, +0.546
14. Alex Marquez, Honda, +0.613
15. Brad Binder, KTM, + 0,624
16. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,663
17. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.683
18. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +0.731
19. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +1,144
20. Marini, Ducati, + 1,250
21. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 1,366
22. Gardner, KTM, + 1,465
23. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 1,603
24. Nagashima, Honda, +2,102

MotoGP result FP1, Phillip Island:

1. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 30.368 min
2. Miller, Ducati,+ 0,091 sec
3. Alex Marquez, Honda, +0.125
4. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,143
5. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.319
6. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.422
7. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0.529
8. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.709
9. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.719
10. Bezzecchi, Ducati, +0.798
11. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +0.826
12. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,827
13. Martin, Ducati, +1,051
14. Viñales, Aprilia, + 1.068
15. Mir, Suzuki, + 1,163
16. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 1,332
17. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +1,500
18. Oliveira, KTM, + 1,582
19. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +1,810
20. Gardner, KTM + 1,839
21. Brad Binder, KTM, + 2,198
22. Marini, Ducati, + 2,463
23. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 2,579
24. Nagashima, Honda, +4,069