CAL Crutchlow described Sunday’s MotoGP at the historic TT Assen track as a ‘disaster’ after biblical downpour saw the race shortened to 12 laps and caused him to crash out.
The Coventry-born rider was making excellent progress in the race after starting on the second row and despite the heavy rain he was closing in on the leaders with a sequence of fast laps before the race was stopped.
The heavy downpours forced the race to be shortened to 12 laps to decide a winner with Crutchlow re-starting in seventh place.
The 30-year-old fitted a softer rear wet tyre to the back of his bike and was hopeful of picking up where he had left off before, but the extra grip meant he was pushing from the front end too much.
That proved to be Crutchlow’s downfall and he slid out the race unharmed, while LCR Hinda team mate Jack Miller crossed the finish line in first position.
“I’m not happy as you can imagine,” said Crutchlow. “Everything in a race like Sunday is going to be an if, but or a maybe, but I felt great in the first part of the race.
“The tyre wasn’t working properly at the start and I was struggling to get heat into it, but then as soon as it started to dry I was the fastest man on the circuit.
“I feel I would have won the race. Then it started raining again and it was a disaster.
“In the restart I chose the softer tyre and crashed out, simply because I had too much grip in the rear tyre. I had no experience on the tyre apart from in the qualifying session, and the conditions were so different. I got caught out with a cold front tyre, and honestly I am so disappointed.
“Take nothing away from the guys on the podium, especially Jack, but I felt there was an opportunity to finish the race on the podium and maybe win it.
“Jack took that chance, and I’m really pleased for him. If there was anyone else on the grid I’d want to win apart from myself, and it would be him.”
