How tough is this guy


Le Mans MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow diagnosed with leg fracture


Saturday, May 18th 2013, 18:46 GMT


Cal Crutchlow will need medical clearance to race in MotoGP's French Grand Prix after being diagnosed with a shin fracture from his crash in pre-qualifying practice.

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider had a violent fall at La Chappelle in practice four.

The accident caused a red flag as Crutchlow was initially unable to get up.

But he eventually walked away unaided and went on to take part in qualifying, taking fourth on the grid.

A subsequent examination revealed a fracture to his tibial plateau.

"I went out with a different setting on the bike and instead of taking one lap to get used to it, I went for my usual lap and we'd changed something in one area and the tyre wasn't up to temperature and I crashed," Crutchlow told the official MotoGP website.

"This crash hurt. I have a small fracture in the top of my shin bone, on the side of my knee, and that's very painful.

"I also have some bruising inside the stomach and on the lungs. I was coughing some blood and had a big nosebleed. But we race motorcycles...

"The main concern is I have some pain internally but we will assess the situation in the morning.

"I'm fine. The bleeding from my mouth and my nose has stopped now so we can look forward to the race."

MotoGP medical staff are concerned that overnight swelling could cause problems for Crutchlow on race day so he will have to be examined again before Sunday morning's warm-up to confirm whether he is fit to ride.

True Grit.

We sure he's a Brit?

What a tough guy to qualify so good after such a crash!

You can be sure he is always putting in 101% , possibly sometimes to his detriment

...The real Deal...needs a factory bike.....I also cannot wait to see Scott Redding in MOTOGP

I don't know how he gets leathers to fit him with balls that big.

That's what alot of top riders are like, even down to club level. It's just you don't hear about it. The one that impressed me recently was that young guy in the Scottish supersport 600s breaking a collar bone. They strapped it up using tape and plastic handles off a spatula and he did pressups in the medical bay and got cleared to race. . The pain must have been incredible. Also that rider in the 848 Challenge racing after breaking two fingers on his left hand. Proper twisted and mangled them up and ended up having to pull in because they were grinding. Even young Rothwell in my class, doing tendons in his knee at the last round , swole up like a football. Then his dad lifting him on the bike 20min before the race to get it bending and he went out and set a new lap record! You don't hear about the injuries coz the med guys would stop them racing.

Not sure about the crutchlow factory bike thing. Always alot of talk after every race saying he'd be winning on a factory bike. Whos to say the factory yamaha is a better bike? It has newer development parts, but are they better and would they work for him? Amazing rider to watch. True grafter. Between him, Marquez and Pedrosa there riding styles and commitment blows me away. Find Rossi and Lorenzo a bit boring.

Hope it rains today!

Crutchlow is definitely an animal. Excellent ride to 2nd place all banged up and shit!

Top lad

That was hell'a ride from him. Plus Marquez came on very strong at the end!

I've definitely bcome a fan. I think this season is beginning to turn into the Rossi farewell tour so I'm sure Crutchlow will get that ride next season. With the way Rossi and Spies before him have performed on the #2 Yamaha though I'm not sure that will make him any faster on the track. It sure will be a boost to his bank account though.

The guy deserves a Factory ride, what a top performance today, 2nd place with a fractured shin bone, outstanding!

He would be a great example of the bulldog breed if only he could keep his mouth shut.

Put a microphone in front of him though and he is like Stoner reborn:

Dovi has better brakes than me
Ducati offered me millions and then pulled out
I am only riding this Tech 3 but it isnt as good as a factory bike
Those big boys wont let me overtake them
Anybody give me a playstation game as Tech 3 cant afford to test at COTA
Next year I will be goonered as Yamaha want Pol Espagaro

Unfortunately, in the last few years we have had two talented brits in Moto GP, Toseland and Crutchlow both turned into massive prima donnas and whinged their way out of a job.

We also have Bradely Smith who was hardly a contender in 125, barely in the running in Moto2 and is now a backmarker in Moto GP as he never whinges on camera.

Tells you something. I reckon they should never interview a Brit until he has won something.