Cal Crutchlow’s season is off to a bad start.
Crutchlow moved from Yamaha’s Tech 3 satellite team to the Ducati factory team in the off-season, and things haven’t been going well since. Teammate Andrea Dovizioso bested him at Qatar, finishing one slot ahead, and then at the Austin GP, Crutchlow was carted off the track in a stretcher after a crash – just after he’d had to pit, to change tires. Now, he’s going to miss the Argentinian race.
Originally, doctors thought Crutchlow had simply dislocated his right pinky finger, but after it was slow to heal, they realized it was fractured. He’s had a pin inserted, and as a result, it’s too painful for him to work the brake lever while his hand heals.
Michele Pirro, Ducati’s test rider, will take Crutchlow’s place.
““I am very sad to let the team down like this because I was really looking forward to racing in Argentina,” Crutchlow said. “Unfortunately I’m still feeling too much pain in my right hand, my knuckles are the most painful part and I’m not in condition to race this weekend.”
