MotoGP – Crutchlow complains about injured ankle in 2018

September 30, 2022

The British RNF Racing rider said the ankle he suffered a serious fracture in 2018 is “very sore” after hitting the ground in second practice at the MotoGP Thai Grand Prix.

Cal Crutchlow was looking for a lap in the closing stages of FP2 at Buriram when he fell off his Yamaha at Turn 7.

The Yamaha rider underwent an X-ray which showed no fracture, the pain being the result of the swelling he experienced after the crash.

Crutchlow finished the day 12th on the time sheet. “There is no excuse” despite the crash, as it was simply the result of taking advantage of the good feeling he had on the M1.

“Obviously it hasn’t been an ideal day, ending with X-rays of my right ankle which I broke badly a few years ago,” said Cal, who shattered his ankle in a quick fall at Phillip Island in 2018.

“I have quite a bit of pain in my ankle right now. The X-rays are negative, but this could also be my ankle swelling.”

“But it looks like a different area than the one I broke then.”

“So we have to keep trying to rest, ice his ankle and see how he is tomorrow.”

The Briton was just two tenths away from provisionally accessing Q2.

“I felt very good on the bike. In FP1, when we were looking for the lap time, I made a mistake that prevented me from being in the top 10. In the afternoon I was going for the lap time, there is no excuse for that. I was pushing because I felt good on the bike. Unfortunately, I had too much angle with too much gas. And that’s what happens when you ride a MotoGP bike and you’re pushing.”

Crutchlow thinks he can fight for better positions seeing how his day has gone.

“Honestly speaking, I feel good, I feel like my pace is really good. I would be able to fight this weekend for a good position again. The problem is that now we have to see the extent of the injuries, because I have some injuries in elbows and back and most of my body. But we’ll see.”

Cal Crutchlow, RNF MotoGP Racing