Cal Crutchlow expects a difficult weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix as he continues recovering from a shoulder injury while adapting to an unfamiliar circuit.
The former MotoGP race winner is once again standing in for the injured Johann Zarco at LCR Honda, but arrives at Balaton Park facing fresh challenges after discovering a tear in his left scapula muscle following his comeback appearance at Mugello.
Crutchlow explained that the injury was not caused by a crash but resulted from the physical demands of returning to MotoGP competition after spending three years away from full-time racing.
While surgery will not be required, the 40-year-old acknowledged that recovery will take time.
"I can try and ride with it," said Crutchlow, who remains determined to continue despite the discomfort.
The injury comes at a difficult moment as Balaton Park presents another obstacle. Unlike many riders on the grid who raced at the circuit during its MotoGP debut last season, Crutchlow has never ridden there before.
Source: Crash.net
As a result, much of Friday's practice will be spent learning the layout rather than focusing purely on performance and bike setup.
"I believe this will be a more challenging weekend, because I don't know the circuit," he admitted.
Crutchlow expects the circuit's numerous low-speed corners and frequent direction changes to place additional strain on his shoulder, creating a different type of physical challenge compared to the high-speed demands of Mugello.
Despite the obstacles, the Briton remains realistic about his objectives. Rather than targeting points or top results, he views the weekend as another step in rebuilding his race fitness and familiarity with Honda's MotoGP machinery.
"I know I'll be last in every session, and I'm okay with that because this is a building process," he said.
The veteran's honest assessment reflects the scale of the task facing him after such a lengthy absence from regular competition. Nevertheless, both Honda and LCR Honda were encouraged by his performance at Mugello, where he managed to produce competitive lap times despite limited preparation.
With expectations firmly in check, Crutchlow's focus this weekend will be on gaining experience, improving his physical condition and continuing his adaptation back to MotoGP racing.
