Crutchlow: “I pushed a little but not 100%...”

Two-time GP winner takes to the top on Friday at Silverstone

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) had a storming start to his home GP, taking P1 on the timesheets and leading the way. On pole last year and then taking second in the race, the Brit has good form at Silverstone of late - and it looks like that has more than carried into 2017.

Despite the top start, the LCR rider says there still seems to be some doubt as to whether he'll have podium pace on Sunday - saying the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP pairing of Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales look like a serious threat - and that there's no doubt Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) will be there in the mix at the front.

Cal Crutchlow, P1: “Today was just one of those days where everything went well, I felt good in FP1 with the soft rear tyre which isn’t usually my style…then this afternoon we used the harder one and it’s too soft! The track temperature has gone up. I didn’t want to put the soft tyre on at the end because I think my time would have been good enough, but they said to me that I should just in case something happens in the morning. I pushed a little but not anywhere near my 100%. I nearly went down in the last corner and that would have been big! But I was happy enough with the day. It’s bumpy, but when you’re on it you just have to deal with it. But they are amazing laptimes for the first day at Silverstone. But even though today has gone good, I could easily find myself off the podium. Both Maverick and Vale are very fast, one on the soft tyre and one on the hard – and Vale on the last lap he would be difficult to beat in a battle. And Marc’s going to be there, 100%. There’s three guys who could take the podium  - but I had a good scrap last year and I’d be up for another this year!”

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