Cal Crutchlow storms to a new podium at Mugello

Cal Crutchlow may be brutally honest at times, but he also knows how to play up to the media, when he said he was glad to break up what could have been another all Spanish podium for the second consecutive time.
The British rider believes he could have been closer to Pedrosa and Marquez at the start of the race if Andrea Dovizioso hadn’t chopped across his front at the start, ruining his plans and making him waste some time but he bounced back towards the end as he was catching the Repsol Honda rider, but decided to back off and celebrate his second podium of the season.

“I am really happy to be back on the podium because Mugello is one of the blue riband races on the calendar and that makes it feel a bit more special.
It is an awesome result and I have to pay a big tribute to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew who did an incredible job this weekend.
I’ve not felt comfortable on the bike but today they gave me a package that was really competitive.

In the second half of the race I was really strong and consistent and I could see for the last 10 laps I had the pace that was bringing me closer to Dani and Marc.
I was in a really fast and consistent rhythm but I hate to be gifted a podium like that.
I’m sorry Marc crashed because he was doing an amazing job again but to be honest I felt I could have caught Dani and taken third anyway.
When I saw Marc crash I slowed down to not risk losing a second podium in a row, which is a fantastic achievement for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and me.
I’m fourth in the Championship, top non-factory rider again, so it has been another great way to finish the weekend and continue our very strong start to the season.
” After Bradley’s Smith huge crash this morning during the warm-up session we couldn’t believe that the Tech3 rookie rider would continue the weekend while already suffering from a mangled finger (if you’re not squeamish – you take a look at the condition his finger is in – posted a very graphic photo on his Twitter account) and a crack in his scaphoid, and instead he was as tough as nails, just like his team mate and fellow countryman and he’ll be undergoing surgery tomorrow.
“To be honest ninth position was obviously a really good result considering the circumstances of today.
This morning’s crash was the last thing I needed, so to be able to go the whole race distance with just one mistake was positive for me.
I had a lot of problems with my left hand as well as with my wrist and it was magnified with Mugello being such physically demanding track.
So I believe I did a really good job.
It would have been good to beat (Aleix) Espargaro at the end but considering the whole weekend I should be satisfied with another top 10 result.
After a very difficult weekend for my body I just need to rest as much as I can to put me in the best possible condition for Barcelona.
We still learned a lot during these tough days, especially from the big crashes, but I suppose that’s all part of the game on my way to becoming a better MotoGP rider.
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