Austrian GP – Crutchlow (4th): ” This place is a real sign of progress ”

Powerless against the factory Ducatis and his leader at Honda, Cal Crutchlow finished fourth in the Austrian race, more than nine seconds behind the leaders… But he ranks first "independent" driver and continues to rise in the championship !

Cal Crutchlow, Honda (5th in qualifying and 4th in race): "We sincerely weren’t in a position to fight for a podium spot today here, but before the weekend I had said that we would be happy to be able to finish in the Top 6 and that’s it. which we were finally able to do. I drove pretty well overall but really didn’t have the chance to stay in touch with the leading men at the start of the race. It was practically impossible for me. with the front tire hard because it was not warm enough at that time and I came close to falling very little on turn four in the first lap ".

"I am of course generally satisfied with the result obtained today. I had finished in 15th position here in Austria the two previous years. Getting this fourth place this season is therefore a real sign of progress on our part".

"We leave the Spielberg circuit having scored valuable points for the championship, in addition to a rather honorable position last week in the Czech Republic. This allows us to approach Silverstone with high expectations. A final place in the Top 5 would not be excluded but my priority objective remains above all to get on the podium in front of my fans ".

Site analysis: Cal Crutchlow had achieved a "marvelous" start to the 2018 season by finishing at the foot of the podium in Qatar, by winning the next race in Argentina – the Briton was then propelled to the top of the championship – and by signing pole position in Spain on the circuit from Jerez.

Unfortunately for the world champion (Supersport 2009), his white results weigh heavily on his average: his third fall, which took place in Germany on the Sachsenring just before the short summer break, cost him three places in the provisional…

Yesterday at the Red Bull Ring again, the native of Coventry passed very close to KO, the fault of his hard front tire … to raise the temperature according to him! Cal however remained on his wheels until the end and did not leave Austria "quarrelsome", on the contrary !

Added to the 11 points recorded last week in the Czech Republic, the 13 points of his remarkable fourth place in Austria revives Crutchlow in the race for the "title" of best independent driver: he now has 103 points, against 104 for Zarco (9th Sunday) and 105 for Petrucci (5th).

The LCR team can be proud to see its n ° 35 driver finish at the foot of the podium … It can also boast of having one of the warmest and most sympathetic drivers on the field: Cal is not stingy with kisses , jokes and pat on the back in the closed park. This "positive" attitude does not earn any points, but it certainly raises the rating of the driver, his team and the entire championship, no ?

Finally, Lucio Cecchinello had something to be doubly happy about this Sunday, because of the first place obtained by his second pilot Takaaki Nakagami … Fifteenth in the scratch, the Japanese n ° 30 indeed finished first "rookie", preceding by a third of a second Hafizh Syahrin, the rookie of the Yamaha Tech3 team !

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