---
title: "Crutchlow out to make amends for Motegi mistake"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/10/20/crutchlow-make-amends-motegi-mistake/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-10-20T11:24:44Z"
modified: "2016-10-20T11:25:04Z"
---

# Crutchlow out to make amends for Motegi mistake

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow will be keen to make amends this weekend in Australia for what he described as a ‘stupid mistake’ at the Twin Ring Motegi last time out, which he felt cost him a potential shot at the podium.

The British rider was one of the few to opt for the harder front tyre in Japan, a decision he was convinced would have seen him come strong in the final few laps. But a mistake in the closing stages sent him off track and he lost a lot of time, resigning him to fifth.

Crutchlow says he is looking forward to this weekend’s race, as Phillip Island has seen the Briton produce some strong results in the past. He finished fourth in 2009 in the World Supersport race at the Australian circuit, taking third in 2012 for the Tech 3 Yamaha team in MotoGP. Crutchlow was headed for a season-best second on the Ducati in 2014 when he crashed in the closing stages, and was seventh last year after fighting for the podium places in the opening half of the race.

Despite the fact he took a historic first victory earlier in the year at a wet Brno, Crutchlow has expressed his wishes for the forecast rain to stay away this weekend, saying that ‘it’s a disaster half the time’ for all involved. Nonetheless, he admits that the situation will be the same for all riders and he’ll take each session as it comes.

“I wouldn’t say I was in fantastic form, but I think the whole LCR Honda Team are happy enough with how things are going,” he said. “I make a stupid mistake in Motegi which possibly took me out of contention for the podium. I was disappointed with that because I felt we had a strong plan for the end of the race with the hard front tyre.

“We’ll see what this weekend brings. I’m looking forward to racing at Phillip Island as always, it’s been a kind track to me over the years except for the last lap in 2014. The rest has been quite good and I’ve enjoyed racing here over the years so hopefully we can have another good one this weekend.

“I don’t want it to rain, even though I’ve had a race win in the wet, you never want it to. It’s a disaster half the time – and not just for me, for the crowd and the teams too. We would prefer it to be dry and we need that time around here because it’s a circuit where you have to get in a rhythm over the whole weekend to be competitive on Sunday. Everybody’s in the same boat, it’s the same for me as everyone else on the grid, so we’ll just take it as it comes.”