P122
CN
III IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
T
he mental picture of Fred-
die Spencer standing in
aloof silence with his arms
folded, facing up to an irately
gesticulating Cal Crutchlow, will
linger long in the mind.
That at least was how
Crutchlow described what hap-
pened after the Argentine GP,
and it is easy to imagine.
Crutchlow is one of those
people who does irate pretty
comprehensively. And Freddie
is well practiced at being impas-
sive.
It's the unstoppable force
meeting the immovable object,
all over again.
In the unlikely event that
you haven't seen the video of
Crutchlow supposedly jumping
the start, for which he was hit with
the standard, one-size-fits-all ride-
through penalty, let me explain.
The 2018 winner was poised
on his factory LCR Honda, eyes
on the lights, clutch to the bar,
revs on the limiter. A split second
before the start, his bike moves
forward—less than an inch, the
front wheel just about touching
the beginning of the white line
marking his grid slot.
His explanation made perfect
sense. Rather than trying to gain
an unfair advantage, he was just
anticipating the moment, moving
from the balls of his feet onto his
toes.
PUNISHMENT SHOULD FIT THE CRIME
Did Crutchlow's penalty
at the Argentine MotoGP
fit the crime? Crutchlow
certainly doesn't think so.
PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
