MOTOGP: Crutchlow frustrated by 'impossible' situation

Cal Crutchlow feels that getting fast laps out of his LCR Honda MotoGP bike is proving "impossible" this year.

The British rider finished eighth in the championship with the satellite squad in 2015, having grabbed a podium, but is 19th this year after six grands prix. Crutchlow has crashed in four races on the troubled RC213V, with 11th in the last race at Mugello coming after a fall in qualifying left him 16th on the grid.

Factory riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa have also discussed Honda's acceleration shortfall, which means its riders are having to try to recover time lost on the straights under braking.

"I used to be one of the kings of qualifying, now I'm not because we can't push like we used to be able to push," Crutchlow said. "I've had many years of riding the Yamaha and the Ducati, I was still able to pull out good laps when I needed to and now, it's impossible with what we have.

"I remember Marc was qualifying a second in front of the next riders at some circuits. He was a mile ahead. And now he's pushing beyond the limit to be within two three tenths.

"We have to try and brake a bit later, we have to try and push in the corner and [crashing] is what happens."

Crutchlow denied that his confidence was down, and does not believe that backing off to ensure he finishes races is the answer.

"If I settle and take a result, I'll be 16th," he said. "At the end of the day, you put me on a Yamaha, I'll hammer the two guys that are on the satellite Yamahas, there is no shadow of a doubt.

"You put me on the satellite Ducati, I'll hammer them guys as well. That's the way I feel and I'm not being arrogant by saying that, I've done it.

"I've been seven times on the podium with Tech3, on a bike that was a lot worse than what they're on now. Is my confidence down or anything like that? No. I am pissed off at this situation but I can't get myself out of this situation. What can I do?"

NO MIRACLE CURE FOR WOES

The 30-year-old knows that there is no easy answer, but added that Honda is working hard to find chassis and electronics improvements, with its engine development frozen.

"The bike's shaking, the bike's moving, you don't need me to tell you," he said. "You can see from the TV which bike looks the worst on the grid at the moment compared to the others.

"I've nothing more that I can say than also to praise Honda because they are trying but what can we do now?

"You can't just make something overnight. We know that they can't bring an engine, so then we're looking at chassis, swing arm, blah blah blah, but they need time to work on it. We know they're working [but] I don't see any miracle cure."

Originally on Autosport.com