---
title: "Crutchlow: The speed is there"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/02/16/crutchlow-the-speed-is-there/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-02-16T12:57:23Z"
modified: "2017-02-16T12:57:46Z"
---

# Crutchlow: The speed is there

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow says that, while the RC213V may not be perfect yet, he is at least satisfied with his speed on it after producing the third quickest lap of the Thursday’s session at Phillip Island.

The British rider is helping HRC develop the new ‘big-bang-style’ engine, as well as a raft of other upgrades, since testing for the 2017 season began back in November in Valencia.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/02/635558520.jpg)

Crutchlow admitted that there were a few ‘teething’ troubles yesterday, but was still only half a second adrift of pacesetter Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez in fifth.

Hailing today as ‘more productive’, the double MotoGP race winner was much happier with his pace and felt Honda were improving the bike.

“Today was a more productive day for the LCR Honda Team. Yesterday there were a few teething problems perhaps, but today we seemed to be able to keep a good pace throughout,” he explained.

“We are happy with the pace because it is consistent. We tried lots of different things with the bike, some which were good and some not so much. We need to work on those areas still, but I think that the Honda in general seems to be improving and that’s good for us.”

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/02/635354198.jpg)

The LCR rider completed a hefty tally of 80 laps today, focusing more on improving his feeling on the bike over longer distances than on pure pace. Nonetheless, he still posted a 1m29.325s to go third and felt more was possible had he went all out.

“I didn’t go out to set one ‘fast’ lap time today, but if we had I reckon we could have been very competitive. That’s something we can do another day, however, because in the meantime I’m happy enough with our consistency.

“The tyre consistency was good and the bike is generally working well too, and even if the feeling isn’t perfect just yet, the speed is there, so that’s positive.”