CRUTCHLOW QUALIFIES AS THE TOP INDEPENDENT RIDER IN AUSTIN

Cal Crutchlow will start Sunday’s Grand Prix of the Americas from fifth place on the grid after a stunning performance during qualifying. The LCR Honda rider set the sixth-fastest time of the 15-minute Qualifying 2 session, but with Andrea Iannone hit with a three-place grid penalty, the Brit is moved forward a spot for the race.
With a couple of technical issues in the morning session it was already a stunning lap that had seen Crutchlow through to the afternoon’s qualifying final. Then he pulled out another last minute effort on his Rizoma branded RCV to qualify as the top independent rider on the grid for the first time this season, and was also the second-quickest Honda rider behind poleman Marc Marquez.
#35 Cal Crutchlow – 6th (5th on grid - 2’04.265)
“Today is a good day for us. The whole Team did a fantastic job because we had some mechanical problems in the third free practice, and we had to change the whole bike in FP4. So it was a little tough to manage the situation but overall we are doing the best job with what we have.”
“Tomorrow we have to look forward to the race because I think our pace isn’t too bad, and we should be competitive. It’s better to be on the second row for the start to give us a chance of getting away with the fastest riders.”