Crutchlow slips from pole after struggling for grip
Mon, 17 May 2010
Cal Crutchlow refused to be downcast despite failing to convert pole position into a maiden World Superbike race win for the third time this season at Kyalami.
The 24-year-old CIA Insurance sponsored rider lined up on the front row alongside teammate James Toseland after dramatic qualifying session which saw less than four tenths of a second separate seven riders.
However Crutchlow failed to build on that during race day as a lack of grip curtailed him to eighth in race one with Italian Michel Fabrizio taking victory.
Crutchlow’s race pace issues were unearthed again in race two, however he did improve coming home an agonising fourth as fellow Brit Leon Haslam topped the podium.
And the Yamaha Sterilgarda rider – who now sits ninth with 86 points – has vowed to take heart from his performance during round six in South Africa
“The team and myself did the best job we could at a track that the bike clearly isn’t best suited to,” said Crutchlow, who is 136 points behind championship leader Haslam. “Like a lot of riders I seemed to lose a lot of grip very early in both races and that made it a real struggle to keep on the pace throughout.
“But having said that I was pleased overall with the second race – we were battling for a win and showing good pace throughout to hold on for points.
It was great to take a third pole position – the team have done a really good job in developing the bike to put me on the front row.”
Races are coming thick and fast for Crutchlow with Kyalami following a week after round five in Monza and round seven in America now just two weeks away.
And Crutchlow – who claimed the World Supersport title last year – is adamant the circuit at Miller Motorsport Park will be better suited to him than the track at Kyalami.
“Kyalami is a difficult circuit and I think I have done well and the team have done a really good job considering that,” he added.
“I am looking forward to getting to Salt Lake City and Miller Motorsport Park and the track will definitely suit our bike better. Taking that into account I am confident we can achieve some good results and continue moving onwards and upwards.”
* World Superbike Championship races will be broadcast on Eurosport, with the European rounds also available in High Definition. Eurosport Sky 410 & Virgin Media 521. Eurosport HD is on Sky 412 and Virgin Media 522.
Source: Coventry Evening Telegraph
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