Monster Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow isn't happy with the crash that put him out of a potential podium finish in today's Le Mans MotoGP round but the fact he was able to fight for a top-three position comes as some consolation.

The Briton was battling not only with team-mate Andrea Doviziso and Valentino Rossi but also with a lack of grip and outright top speed in the soaking conditions so was forced to make it up on the brakes, which are also a weakness of the satellite YZR-M1, and on corner entry - where he eventually came unstuck.

“I'm not happy to have crashed while I was fighting for the podium, but the consolation is that at least I was battling for the top three again. Being quickest in the warm-up this morning meant I was confident going into the race but I wasn't really aggressive at the start. It was a great battle with Andrea and Valentino though but I seemed to miss out on a bit of speed on the straight compared to them," said Crutchlow.

"That meant I had to make up all my time in the corners. It was a shame I crashed because I was fighting with Valentino and he finished second. There was a chance of the podium today but at least I was there and I lost so much time after the crash that to still finish eighth is a bonus really. Now we go to Barcelona knowing it will be tough but I will looking to be battling for the podium again.”