Crutchlow fifth in Catalunya test

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow finished a one-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya 5th today, with the Brit satisfied with progress made in hot conditions.

Following his unfortunate early crash out of podium contention in yesterday’s race, Crutchlow dedicated the majority of his time on track today to working on improving his feeling with a full fuel tank.

Crutchlow tried several modifications to his YZR-M1 machine and he was happy to make positive steps that allowed him to feel more confident and faster with a full fuel load. The 27-year-old was fifth fastest and his best time of 1.42.462 that was less than 0.2s away from the top three.

He also tested a revised spec YZR-M1 frame but while it offered an improvement with braking stability, he will continue to race with the same chassis he’s used in the opening six rounds when the campaign resumes in Assen.

Cal Crutchlow 5th 1.42.462 – 57 laps

“Each time I left the pits today I had a full fuel tank. That makes it difficult to make a lap time and it is hard to ride physically. I hope we have found something to help me at the start of the race. I want to be able to brake a bit deeper in the first few laps and it seems I can do that now. I’m sure we have found something because we had a big tailwind today and I could still brake 15 metres later into the first corner than I could in the race when there was a headwind. I tested a new chassis that Jorge (Lorenzo) used at the first couple of races and it isn’t any better than the frame I am on. I did the whole day on the new frame and braking stability was better but in other areas it didn’t feel quite as good. At the end I went out again on my old chassis and was immediately as fast as before and I was using a set of tyres that had already done 25-laps. I felt immediately fast and more comfortable and I will continue to use that frame.”