Cal Crutchlow qualified in 16th place for the final MotoGP of the season tomorrow at Valencia in Spaain.

The LCR Honda rider from Ramsey did briefly hold onto second place midway through Q1 when he lost the front of the bike at turn 10, crashing quite heavily. He felt that the left side of the Michelin tyre was too soft and he should perhaps have given it another lap to heat up.

He predicts Sunday’s race could be carnage at the front end, so it may prove fortuitous to start where he is and perhaps slip through to be ’wing man’ for Marc Marquez in pursuit of the the world title.

Crutchlow made a valiant attempt to get back to the pits after his crash, but said: ’It’s hard to run in leathers, especially when the airbag has gone off.’

He didn’t make it in time to get another LCR Honda out.

Onchan resident Sam Lowes brought the Aprilia home in 24th place, and will hope to bow out with a good race at Valencia.