Cal Crutchlow crashed out of the Gran Premio Movistar MotoGP de Aragon on Sunday.

Despite also coming off in qualifying, the Ramsey resident managed to put his LCR Honda on the second row of the grid behind Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez.

He made a good start to the 23-lap race and headed into the first corner behind Lorenzo. But, pushed wide by hard-charging Marquez, Lorenzo put the power on too quickly and the Ducati spat him off, throwing him high into the air. Crutchlow braked hard to avoid hitting the Spaniard, dropping him from third to eighth.

The British rider set about re-catching the leaders and was gifted a place when Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) ran wide. He then set about catching Espargaro (Aprilia) and Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), but with 19 laps to go he entered turn one and the bike kicked. As it did, Crutchlow pulled on the brake causing the front end to give out. This sent him into the gravel and out of the Grand Prix.

The race was a real battle between Marquez and Dovizioso, but ultimately it was Marquez who won the duel. Andrea Iannone was third on the Suzuki.

Disappointed, Crutchlow is sixth in the championship standings, but has lost his position at the top of the Independent Championship and is now second, 11 points behind new leader Danilo Petrucci (Ducati).

Cal will be hoping for better luck at the new Buriram International Circuit in Thailand on October 7.

PETER CALLISTER