Crutchlow Likely To Race Tomorrow
Cycle News Staff | June 16, 2012
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow may be able to take part in his home Grand Prix tomorrow after scans showed that the Brit didn’t suffer any fractures in his left foot and ankle in his high-speed crash this morning at Silverstone.
The 26-year-old Crutchlow crashed at the Chapel Curve in the early stages of the final practice session and suffered a the foot and ankle injury. After initial checks in the Silverstone Circuit Medical Center, he was transferred to hospital in Oxford for scans to discover the extent of the damage. Extensive analysis of the scans has revealed the former World Supersport Champion hasn’t suffered any fractures and he is already able to put weight on his left foot after doctors reduced the swelling around his heel and ankle.
Crutchlow will undergo a further detailed assessment with Silverstone medics tomorrow morning, but the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is optimistic that he will be given clearance to start the 20-lap race. Although Crutchlow was unable to take part in this afternoon’s qualifying session, if declared fit then he can start from the back of the grid having posted the eighth quickest time in practice yesterday.
“We are very optimistic that Cal will be able to participate in the British Grand Prix tomorrow,” said team manager Herve Poncharal. “The medical staff in Oxford said he should be fine to race and he has no broken bones in the foot or ankle. That is a big relief because Cal was in quite a lot of pain. He will now undertake the necessary checks with the Silverstone medics in the morning, but it looks very positive. We obviously hope he will be able to ride after the disappointment of last year when he was unable to start the race because he was injured. I know what it means for him to race in front of his home crowd, who have given Cal and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team unbelievable support this weekend.”
