Crutchlow's carbon-fibre hopes launched on lap one?

Cal Crutchlow fears his hopes of getting a carbon-fibre swingarm on his Honda RC213V have suffered a setback after factory test rider and wild-card Stefan Bradl was involved in a first lap pile-up at Brno on Sunday.

The German rider – the only person outside of the factory Repsol team with the carbon fibre RC213V swingarm - collided with KTM's Bradley Smith under braking for Turn 3, the pair then bringing down factory Yamaha's Maverick Vinales.

Although all escaped serious injury, Vinales and Bradl sat out Monday's official test to recover.

After finishing fifth in Sunday's race Crutchlow, who still has the aluminium swingarm, had said: “There's only one difference between Marc's bike and mine [the carbon fibre swingarm], and I think this is the area [rear tyre life] where that difference with his bike is better than mine."

The last official in-season test of the year was then held back at the Brno circuit on Monday. But there was to be no new swingarm for the LCR rider.

"We went through our programme. About eleven runs. The track had a lot of rubber and the pace was fast," said Crutchlow.

"I tested a new front fork, that I tried last year in Jerez and has now been modified. It seems better now, but I doubt we'll continue to use it at the moment. Also some small electronic stuff. Geometry. But no parts."

No sign of the carbon fibre swingarm?

"I told you where it was last night; it's already landed in Austria," Crutchlow replied. "He [Bradl] says he can't remember what happened. I can tell you: He was absolutely out of control. I know you guys [the media] are not the fittest people in the world! But if you want to take a walk up to turn three and have a look where he's tried to pass.

"He's basically tried to pass on the grass on the inside. There're tyre marks on the inside, red marks where he's gone down. Honestly, it was a bad move because you have two guys like Brad - who has been working hard all weekend and year - and Vinales - who is in the championship fight - and he's just cleaned them off for no reason.

"But it happens. I've done it before and I'm sure I'll do it again. But he could have just rode around, done a solid race and got some good information for Honda."

The incident was placed under investigation by the FIM Stewards but no action was taken.

"Bradl knew there was no TV footage and he's lost his memory. So he doesn’t know whose fault it was… But ten other riders saw what happened!

"I don't know. It's nothing to do with me. I'm just disappointed he's wrecked something [the carbon fibre swingarm] that maybe I could have had."

Crutchlow added that perhaps wild-cards that have not yet retired are taking risks to try and secure a return to full-time MotoGP racing.

"I think it's nice to have a wild-card, but I also look at Casey and think he's been doing the test riding for Ducati and has no interest to race," Crutchlow said. "I know he's got no point to prove, but maybe that's the way to be as a test rider: A retired rider that doesn’t want to race.

"Because that is the point, when the [other wild-cards] come to race they think they are going to get a job offer at the end of it and they ain't.

"They want to come in and race and prove a point. Except for Guintoli I have to say, he has nothing to prove either. He does a good job I think. Anyway, we need fast test riders."

Crutchlow was fourth fastest when he concluded testing at 2:30pm. He will be back on track for free practice in Austria on Friday morning.