Cal Crutchlow was encouraged by his pace despite finishing 21st in Friday practice at the German MotoGP, as the stand-in Castrol Honda LCR rider focused on building confidence ahead of the weekend.
The British rider posted a best lap of 1:21.121 during the opening day at Sachsenring. While the result left him outside the top positions, Crutchlow believed the team's pace was stronger than the timesheet suggested.
"I'm happy with the pace we had today. I didn't have the perfect feeling with the bike, but our pace is competitive, so I'm pleased with that," Crutchlow said.
The veteran rider admitted he was still working to improve his comfort on the Honda but praised the team's efforts throughout the day. Together, they continued making adjustments to improve the bike's handling and overall feeling.
Despite the challenges, Crutchlow completed the sessions with consistent lap times and felt the team had taken positive steps in the right direction.
"I think we're doing a good job, and considering where we are and what our goals are, it's been a solid day. Let's see what tomorrow brings," he added.
With more track time still to come, Crutchlow will aim to build on Friday's progress and continue closing the gap as the German Grand Prix weekend unfolds.
