LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow is looking to build on another positive showing in Australia when he gets back out on his RC213V for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. After a frustrating run of results, the Briton showed all of his renowned battling qualities to snatch a creditable fifth-placed finish at Phillip Island last week.

Although unable to repeat the famous victory he claimed at the Australian track 12 months earlier, Crutchlow was delighted to secure a good result and restore confidence ahead of what is traditionally a tough test in South East Asia.

The Briton – who turns 32 on Sunday - has a mixed record at the Sepang International Circuit, but demonstrated what he could do around the Malaysian layout when he finished fifth in 2015 – his first year as an LCR Honda rider. After failing to finish last year, Crutchlow will be hoping to celebrate his birthday in style this weekend and has high hopes after the team’s efforts at Phillip Island.

“I’m looking forward to this weekend after a positive enough weekend in Australia. It’s always a difficult and demanding race here in Malaysia where you have to be 100 percent concentrated for the whole weekend.

“You can easily find yourself in a difficult position for qualifying and the race if you’re not 100 percent on the set-up of the bike, so we’ll work hard as a team this weekend and will try to have another good race like we did in Australia and entertain the Malaysian fans.”