LCR standout Cal Crutchlow failed to reach the checkered flag in Italy’s comeback MotoGP weekend.
With a startling motion, LCR approached CrutchlowHe has not raced since the 2023 Japanese GP, to be appointed as a replacement for the injured Yohan Zarco this weekend.
The 40-year-old appears to have retired from racing after stepping down from his role as a Yamaha test rider last year. He’s been battling a long-standing hand injury, which makes his return all the more surprising.
What did Cal Crutchlow do when he returned to Mugello?
He did not reach the checkered flag in Sunday’s race.
Cal Crutchlow: I’m the only one to say MotoGP is ‘crazy’ back
Crutchlow’s performance in his absence was commendable. He was thought to be the slowest rider in qualifying, but three-time World Superbike champion Torak Razgatlioglu ran within a second, 1.8 adrift of regular Honda rider Luca Marini.
After three retirements on the track, he finished 19th in Saturday’s sprint finish. The Briton was 12.5s adrift of Michel Pirro in P18, but his comments may have been more important than his lap time.
Crutchlow He suffered from arm pump over the weekend, which may be why he retired after 12 of 23 rounds. Back to the LCR garage.
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to speak TNT Sports At the start of the weekend, Crutchlow said it was ‘crazy’ to return for the 180th start, especially with the nature of the Mugello circuit.
He said: “The thing is (LCR boss) Lucio (Cecchinello) is mad, and I’m angry, he’s the only one who’s swayed, he’ll do something like that, call me, and I’ll just say OK.
“So I thought ‘we’ll give it a go’. Our only chance is to come to Mugello on the 370km/h straight, all the changes in direction.”
With Johan Zarco’s long absence, Aleix Espargaro injured and Takaki Nakagami no longer keen to drive, it remains to be seen whether Crutchlow will play in Hungary next weekend.
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