Monster Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow set the third fastest time in today's dry Jerez MotoGP test session and was less than a tenth slower than fastest man Valentino Rossi.
The Isle of Man resident lapped at 1'39.574 compared to Rossi's 1'39.525 and said that not only was he able to be on the factory Yamaha's pace, he is able to remain there over a longer run.
"In terms of pace, I think we are quite consistent We are doing the same laptimes with a new tyre as with an old tyre. There's not much more we can be asked to do. The track's grip keeps varying in five minute windows - Lorenzo said the grip went away fast but I'm happy enough," said Crutchlow, speaking at Jerez.
"We can take some positives. We tried two bikes back to back with different settings and we seem to know in which direction we want to go. Last year, we were a lot more consistent than the first year of MotoGP and it seems we are quite consistent again, being able to do a lot of similar lap times.
"Here we seem to be on the pace and keeping the pace all the time. Yesterday I was fast straightaway in the rain and today I was fast straightaway in the dry. I'm pleased. We have for some more stuff to try."
