MotoGP: Brit Cal Crutchlow on Pole at Rainy Silverstone

Photo by Gold & Goose

In spite of being drenched, the hearty British fans stood and gave their countryman Cal Crutchlow a resounding ovation around Silverstone as he took his cool-down lap after MotoGP qualifying for the British Grand Prix. Crutchlow scored the pole Saturday. It was another historic performance by Crutchlow, just 13 days after becoming the first British rider in 35 years to win a Motorcycle Grand Prix, he now becomes just the second British rider to win the premier class pole at Silverstone. Crutchlow pushed his LCR Honda to a lap time of 2:19.265 on the historic 3.666 miles Silverstone circuit to head the grid for Sunday’s British GP.

Crutchlow’s pole time was nearly a full second faster than second place Valentino Rossi. Maverick Viñales qualified third after Suzuki made some positive changes to its wet-race setup.

Crutchlow scored pole in a dramatic wet Q2 session that saw riders see-sawing up and down the timing charts and several big crashes, including by world championship leader Marc Marquez, who suffered a spectacular highside. The Crutchlow pole marked his third pole in MotoGP and first since winning it in the Czech Republic in 2013. Barry Sheene (1977) was the last Brit to win the premier class pole at Silverstone.

“I had a couple,” Crutchlow said with a grin when asked if he’d had any ‘moments’ while going for the pole. “But it was after, after I went past it (the finish line), I went straight into the first corner. I’ve had a fantastic welcome this weekend, ever since I arrived on Wednesday with Lucy and Willow (his wife and new baby daughter), everybody wanted to come and see us. All the fans, thanks for coming out. I know it’s raining, but we can’t fix that. I’m obviously very please for my team and sponsors, we’ve worked hard and deserved this. I had a great pace in the dry over the weekend. I’ve felt quite comfortable. In the rain I pushed when I needed to and took the pole. The last few laps were a bit dangerous, so I just cruised. “

Final qualifying got underway with the oft-injured Jack Miller crashing early in the session, recording no time. He looked to be holding his wrist as he walked away.

Four minutes into the session suddenly turned critical when rain began falling harder, making it more difficult to turn a fast lap.

In spite of the increasing precipitation, Crutchlow found a way to clock in a stunning lap at 2:19.265 on his LCR Honda, at that point three seconds faster than anyone else in session.

With just under three minutes to go Maverick Viñales jumped to P2 with a strong lap on his Suzuki.

With two minutes left, both Marquez and Dovizioso crashed hard in separate incidents. Dovi looked as if he may have reinjured his damaged knee and had to be helped away from the crash. Marquez was flicked over the top of his Honda and seemed to be testing his wrists after his hard tumble.

In the final stages Eugene Laverty was going for it and was on course for a pole position lap, but pitched his Aspar Ducati away at turn 12.

Rossi and Viñales both pushed hard in the end and put their machines on the front row on their final laps making three different makers, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki, on row one for Sunday’s race.

The British Grand Prix starts at 10:30 am Eastern on Sunday and can be watched live on beIN Sports, or online on MotoGP.com’s pay site.

OCTO BRITISH GRAND PRIX MotoGP Qualifying Nr. 2 Classification 2016  Silverstone, Saturday, September 03, 2016