Crutchlow: Lucky it wasn't in a helicopter

"...You can imagine if this thing stopped in a helicopter" - Cal Crutchlow.

12 Apr 2014

Crutchlow, MotoGP, Grand Prix of the Americas, 2014.
© Gold and Goose

Following Friday's second practice session for the Austin MotoGP, Cal Crutchlow gave further details of the technical problem suffered in the morning session.

The Englishman's latest electronic issue saw his Ducati cut-out on the pit straight, leaving Crutchlow fearing a high-speed impact from following riders.

"Apparently the thing that broke on the bike - it's not a part by Ducati - is used in helicopters. And mine just stopped dead. So you can imagine if this thing stopped in a helicopter, they'd be f**ked worse than I was!" he said.

"If someone was behind me I was in trouble for sure."

Crutchlow continued: "I made the statement earlier that there are too many electronics on the bike. I mean on the Ducati, rather than in the championship. There are too many systems. We need to refine it to make it a lot easier to manage, so things like this don't happen.

"For the wheelie we have a system that has multiple systems. One system will do and let's work with that. Because when things happen you don't really know what it is. For example, whether something is caused by the traction control or anti-wheelie.

"The system is completely different to what I've been used to [Yamaha]. It's good in that if you have a sensor failure we have a system to back it up and probably another system to back that up. But I'd prefer it to be a bit more basic really."

Crutchlow was speaking after second practice for the Americas MotoGP, which he finished in ninth place, 1.491s from Honda's Marc Marquez but within 0.5s of team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, who was second on the timesheets.

Crutchlow, Dovizioso and fourth place Andrea Iannone (Pramac Ducati) all set their best lap times on the soft rear tyre, not available to the factory class Honda and Yamaha riders.

"It was an interesting session. I didn't get the best out of the tyre at the end like some other guys. We went the wrong way with the bike setting, but that is just inexperience of the Ducati.

"To turn the bike is a disaster. That is for sure. But again the strong points are that it's fast in a straight-line and stops very well. Hopefully we'll make improvements for tomorrow."