A DISAPPOINTED Cal Crutchlow failed to finish at MotoGP for the third time this season after crashing out of the Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit.
After starting the race in the second row, the Coventry-born rider was forced to retire on Sunday afternoon after crashing on lap four.
Crutchlow was in eighth position when he lost the front end of his bike and slid down the track, taking Stefan Bradl’s bike with him which also caused the German to retire.
“I’m obviously very disappointed to only last three laps, especially in Ducati’s home race at Mugello.” said Crutchlow who has finished just twice out of six races this season.
“We found a good set-up in the morning warm-up and we were able to be competitive in the early stages of the race. Unfortunately I pushed a little too hard in one of the chicanes and lost the front. “We need to look at the best way to go forward from Barcelona with the settings and the bike and make me feel more comfortable.”
“I’m really disappointed for Stefan as well. Obviously I never meant for the bike to take him out, it’s never something that you want to happen. I’m also really disappointed for his team as well, because to have only one rider in the race and then for me, or my bike, to take him out that is a disappointment. So I apologise to him for that and also to his team.”
Another disappointing performance by Crutchlow leaves him 16th in the standings ahead of the Spanish MotoGP in Barcelona in two weeks time.
Ducati general manager, Luigi Dall’Igna, added: “We must be patient: we know we still have to improve a lot, but we will work hard and we are confident for the future.”