---
title: "Crutchlow on front row in Australia"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/10/22/crutchlow-front-row-australia/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-10-22T10:40:27Z"
modified: "2016-10-22T10:40:51Z"
---

# Crutchlow on front row in Australia

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow will start tomorrow’s 27-lap Australian Grand Prix from second on the grid, though was left ruing indecision on his part regarding tyre choice which he felt cost him a shot at pole.

The British rider wasn’t keen on the idea of rain prior to the start of the weekend, but was nonetheless fastest in Friday’s only practice session. Saturday didn’t start off as Crutchlow would have liked, a mistimed run in FP3 leaving him down in 15th and having to contest QP1.

The LCR rider made it through the first part of qualifying with ease, however, cruising to top spot with a 1m38.467 to go two seconds clear of second-placed Jorge Lorenzo.

With the track drying enough for slick tyres, several riders took the gamble and Crutchlow thought about doing the same, though opted instead to put in a banker lap on the intermediate tyres. This turned out to be the wrong decision, as by the time Crutchlow had pitted for a slick rear Marc Marquez had settled into a rhythm and was setting times that could not be matched.

The Briton admits that his ‘gut instinct’ was to go out on slicks having seen the transition from wet to dry in QP1, but decided against that just before the start of QP2. However, Crutchlow is still happy with the front row and heaped praise on his LCR team for all of their hard work so far this weekend.

“I thought that I would set a benchmark time with intermediates first, then I could at least come in at the end and do a faster lap with the slick tyre. I knew that I couldn’t change to a front slick because it wasn’t ready in my second bike,” said Crutchlow.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t really working as well as it might, and it was my own mistake because I should have gone out with the slicks and followed my gut instinct at the start of the session. It’s not normally like me, I’m normally the one who will go out on slicks first, but I’m happy enough.

“The LCR Honda Team have done a great job this weekend and worked so hard to make all the changes. It’s not been an easy weekend for anyone with the cold and rain, and we need to appreciate the support the fans have give in those conditions too! I hope we are able to put on a good show for them all tomorrow.”