LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow secured a creditable fifth place finish at the French Grand Prix on Sunday following a dramatic climax to the MotoGP race at Le Mans. Spaniard Maverick Vinales took victory, but only after factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi crashed out when leading on the last lap, ensuring Crutchlow was able to climb a position.

Starting from fourth on the grid, Crutchlow battled hard throughout and clashed fairing with fellow Honda rider Dani Pedrosa at one point. In the closing stages he pushed hard to try and pass Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, but had to settle for fifth position.

The Briton admitted his RC213V struggled to adapt to the French circuit, but declared himself satisfied after bettering his target for the weekend. 


#35 Crutchlow (5th - 43' 43.312)

"I was struggling today to turn the bike with the harder front tyre, it was really difficult and I was losing a lot of time in the mid-turn. But I felt quite good in the braking zone and I'm happy enough to finish in the top five.

"At least we finished and that was important after not doing so in the last race. My target today was the top six and we finished in the top five, so I'm pleased enough. At Mugello I'll be aiming for the top six again, although there are a lot of guys riding fast at the moment, and I'm hoping the new tyre might suit me a bit better."