MOTOGP: Crutchlow blasts 'embarrassing tow artists'

Cal Crutchlow hit out at "tow artists" in MotoGP who he says are "embarrassing" in their quest to follow top riders to set quick times in practice and qualifying.

The LCR Honda rider was fourth in German Grand Prix practice on Friday but endured a frustrating Saturday and will start the Sachsenring race from 13th on the grid. In Saturday morning's third practice session, Crutchlow said he was blocked by Aprilia's Stefan Bradl, and then lamented a decision not to use a new front tire in the first phase of qualifying.

Jorge Lorenzo denied him a Q2 spot by just 0.046 seconds, even though Crutchlow's time would have been good enough for sixth in the main session. Conversely, Avintia Ducati rider Hector Barbera qualified a career-best second, having run directly behind polesitter Marc Marquez in his first run, during which he managed to take top spot briefly. He improved again at the end of the session, while right behind Ducati's Andrea Iannone.

"These idiots, they can't be in the top 10 so they just rip the a** out of people," Crutchlow said. "Honestly, I'm going to come soon with a membership for about six guys to the 'caravan club'. Because that's all they are, f**ing tow artists.

"We're going to see where Barbera finishes in the race tomorrow – they're artists at it. I know it's part of the game, but it's absolutely pure embarrassment for these people to do it.

"That's like saying, 'I'm not as good as you, on a general day-to-day basis, I need help to do it.'"

'IF THEY DID A LAP ON THEIR OWN THEY'D BE NOWHERE'

While Crutchlow acknowledges that the practice is legal, and riders do follow rivals on track, there was a distinction with the routine offenders.

"If you find someone on the track, or if you catch someone on your outlap, fine," he said. "What makes you a tow artist is if you're doing it every session of every weekend.

"You see Lorenzo, he goes at the start of the session, he's the first out of pitlane generally, and there's two artists behind him immediately. And they manage to stay with him and that's their fastest lap of the whole session. Or they'll save it for the last run and do it again with someone else.

"They have a right to do what they want on the track to an extent, but it pisses you off when people take positions. It's completely legal, so my story is in half a way I'm complaining about something you can do.

"I'm just saying it's embarrassing for them. They'll be celebrating those things like wins and, really, if they did a lap on their own, they'd be nowhere."

Originally on Autosport.com