Crutchlow posts fourth at Estoril test

"If I'd had this set-up for the race I'm sure I could have had a battle with Colin, and he was sixth, so that's really encouraging" - Cal Crutchlow.
Crutchlow, Portuguese MotoGP Race 2011
Crutchlow, Portuguese MotoGP Race 2011
© Gold and Goose

MotoGP rookie Cal Crutchlow produced the surprise of Monꦡday's official Estoril test when he slashed nearly two-seconds from his best race lap to claim fourth place on the timesheets.

The Englishman was only 0.6sec slower than test pace setter Marco Simoncelli (Gresini Honda) as he outpaced the likes of Valentino Rossi and♔ his own experienced Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Colin Edwards.

The secret to Crutchlow's success, at a track where he matched his best MotoGP fꦉinish o🌺f eighth in Sunday's race, was a modified handlebar position and wheelbase.

Only Simoncelli, Jorge Lore🅷nzo and Casey Stoner were able to lap faster than Crutchlow, who completed 71-laps🐬.

"Today was really positive and I can't really ask for much more than finishing fourth quickest with only three of the fastest riders in the world in front🐲 of me," smiled Cal.

"I was able to lap nearly two seconds faster than I did in the race, but I was quietly confident that the changes we planne൲d to make for today would mean I could go a lot faster."

The former World Superspo🙈rt champion and World Superbike race winner explained that the unpredictable weather meant he couldn't risk try🍰ing the modifications during the race weekend,

"Losing so much track꧒ time because of the weather at the weekend meant I couldn't risk taking a gamble on making too many changes for the race," he s𒉰aid.

Crutchlow, like many riders, set hiꦇs♛ fastest time while trying the 2012 Bridgestone tyres.

"I honestly didn't expect to break into the 36s but I felt comfortable and even with 25-laps on𝓡 the same ꦯset of tyres I was doing low to mid-37s," he said.

"I know everyone gꦦoes faster in a test but my time to♕day was faster than Dani Pedrosa's best lap in the race and he won, so my pace bodes well for the future.

"♛We moved the handlebars and lengthened the wheelbase and I just felt much more co꧅mfortable. The bike was a lot easier to ride and much less aggressive and I was fast throughout the whole day.

"If I'𝄹d had this set-up for the race I'm sure I could have had a battle with Colin, and he was sixth, so that's really encouraging.

"I can't wait for Le Mans now. It is the home race for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and today's result has given me a lot of confidence that I can be competitive ag𝄹ain on another track I have to learn from scratch."

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