Cal Crutchlow could be forced to miss a third MotoGP World Championship event in a row after suffering another injury… while getting his COVID-19 test.
The Englishman has suffered a torrid season fraught with physical ailments, missing the opening round in Jerez after fracturing his wrist before going on to skip both races in Misano due to complications stemming from arm pump surgery.
Having been given the green light to return to racing in this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP though, Crutchlow slipped while exiting the PCR testing booth (to take the mandatory COVID-19 test) and turned on his ankle.
Doctors have now confirmed he has ruptured ligaments in the ankle, which could go as far as ruling him out of this weekend’s eighth 2020 MotoGP round. For now though Crutchlow is still due to ride, but will be assessed on Friday morning.
"Unfortunately, upon his arrival to Circuit de Catalunya, Crutchlow slipped as he stepped out of the PCR Testing Booth, rupturing his left ankle’s ligaments as confirmed by Dr. Max Ibañez, member of Dr. Mir’s team," read the LCR Honda statement.
"Nevertheless, despite this misfortune, Cal and the team will try their best to regularly start the Catalan GP on Friday."
The latest injury is just the latest setback for Crutchlow in what is turning out to be a rotten year for the three-time GP race winner.
Indeed, while injuries have played a role in his disappointing return in results, Crutchlow has scored only seven points from the four races he has started.
By contrast, LCR Honda team-mate Takaaki Nakagami is seventh in the overall standings, just 21 points shy of the overall lead. This is expected to be Crutchlow’s final season with LCR Honda following the announcement Alex Marquez will join in 2021 and the anticipation Nakagami will be re-signed and be upgraded to current-spec machinery.
