Cal Crutchlow is congratulated by Herve Poncharal - Photo Credit: Tech 3
Cal Crutchlow paid tribute to the medical staff that helped him onto the grid for today's British Grand Prix after a sensational ride from the back of the grid to sixth. The home favourite suffered what turned out to be a broken ankle in Saturday practice but after treatment at the Clinica Mobile, he was able to race, and produce one of the rides of his life.
“That’s a weekend I won’t forget in a hurry. Yesterday was a disaster with the crash and I thought I was going to miss my home race again. But the Clinica Mobile team and medical staff at Silverstone did an amazing job and I am grateful that I could finally start my home Grand Prix. I never imagined I could get sixth position because normally if you start from the third row it is very difficult to get into that position. So starting from the back of the grid, I’d have been happy to finish the last prototype bike. It was a very tough race but I just had to try and ignore the pain and let the adrenaline and support of the British crowd get me through. When I got by Bradl I could see Nicky was a long way clear, but I just kept on pushing to see what happened. I’m really happy with my lap times because I was as quick as the guys on the podium, even with a broken ankle. So a little part of me can’t help but think without the crash yesterday that I could have been on the podium in the British Grand Prix. I’m not going to complain with sixth and I want to say thanks to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew, who basically chose the set-up of the bike for me and it worked great.”
An emotional Crutchlow also spared a moment to thank the thousands of British supporters who turned out to cheer him on and said they were his inspiration to race through the pain.
“Also a big thanks to all the British fans who were unbelievable today. When I was lying in the gravel yesterday all I could think was they weren’t going to see me ride in my home race again. Their support helped me a lot and I hope they went home proud of the job I did for them.”
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team manager Herve Poncharal was full of admiration for his rider after delivering a performance way above expectations.
“That was a truly incredible race and words almost fail me to describe the job that Cal did today. We weren’t even sure this morning that he could ride, so for him to finish in the top six is a result I don’t think we expected or will ever forget. We thought he might be able to get close to the top 10 but obviously once the adrenaline kicked in and he felt his confidence coming back, he got his head down and we were happy when he got seventh. He was a long way behind Nicky but to pass him on the last lap sums Cal up perfectly. He never gives up, he’s got amazing self-belief and he has got a lot of guts to match his talent. I am proud of him and I’m sure all of the British fans are too.”
