Britain’s Cal Crutchlow finished the opening day of MotoGP free practice at Jerez in third place after reverting to a chassis which is basically the same as last year’s RCV.

The British rider, who is still negotiating a deal to remain in the premier class next year, had a upgraded chassis in Wednesday’s test but opted to go back to what he knows until he can spentdmore time with the newer version.

“I used something different on Wednesday and I decided to not continue with it,” said Crutchlow.

“The bike essentially now I am riding is very similar to the 2019 bike save for some small upgrades in the electronics and the engine, but the chassis and everything else is very much the same.

“It’s good in one sense because you have a similar feeling but I would have preferred to have some more innovations on the bike and such.”

Both Marc and Alex Marquez crashed during today;’ sessions and Crutchlow got very close, which means that Honda’s front-end woes are still in evidence.

I nearly had one on the last lap, that’s why I pulled out. Exactly the same as Marc, I lost the front in turn two but Marc would continue to lean the bike over and try save it, whereas I let go of the brake and pray that I stay on, and I did.

“It’s very critical, this is the Honda, the front of the bike is really critical to manage and I didn’t see Marc and Alex’s crashes so I cannot comment on that, from going on what we know from previous years, it is the Honda’s strong point to tip into the corner, but it’s also our weak point because we have to keep pushing

“That is our only chance to gain time over the whole lap, we gain everything in the braking and with the rider manually riding the bike. We keep going past that limit.”