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Crutchlow: I could have challenged Marquez with slick front

Cal Crutchlow has lamented his tyre choice during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, saying he feels he could have challenged poleman Marc Marquez with a slick front tyre.

Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda

Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda

The LCR Honda rider ended up second on the grid for the Phillip Island race at the end of a wet-dry qualifying session, ending up 0.792s behind Marquez at the end of Q2.

Having been forced to come through the first phase of qualifying – which he topped in dominant style – Crutchlow chose the intermediate front/slick rear combination for his final run in Q2.

However, with Marquez taking pole with slicks front and rear, the British rider was left to rue not opting for a slick front from the start of the session, as the time constraints of qualifying left him with insufficient time to change the front tyre midway through.

“We’re a little bit disappointed with the result today, maybe we could have stolen pole if I was clever enough,” said Crutchlow.

“Normally I’m the guy to go with slicks first, and I should have gone with my gut instinct.

“After Q1 I thought ‘let’s go with the slicks’, but then I changed my mind and it was the wrong decision.

“I lost a bit of time, but I did a good job with the tyre I had. At the end of the day Marc did a great lap.

“It’s been tricky all weekend, going through to Q1. I had an extra bit of experience, but we shouldn’t have been in Q1 to start with, but I chose the wrong tyres at the wrong time in FP3.”

Crutchlow added he was unsure if, in dry conditions, Marquez will be challenged for victory.

“Tomorrow is going to be a lottery," said Crutchlow. "It’s going to go one way or the other, I don’t know.

"[Either] Marc is going to go away or we can stay with him and he’s going to be in the fight. I just don’t know which way it’s going to go yet!”

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