Team eyes Assen return for Crutchlow

Crutchlow was optimistic he might make it onto the front row at Silverstone given his pace in practice, only to crash on just his third lap of qualifying.

Team boss Herve Poncharal said the squad was devastated for its rider.

"Cal's injury is a very big disappointment and I feel really sorry for him because he was desperate to do well in his home race here at Silverstone," said Poncharal.

"He's been fast all weekend, so we had high hopes that he could get a good place on the grid and be challenging for the top six in the race. But track conditions were quite cold and it was obvious from looking at the TV pictures that the tyre wasn't up to temperature.

"He is in pain right now but I think he is more upset than anything else because he wanted to put on a good show for the British fans. A lot of people have come to support him and he didn't want to let anybody down."

Crutchlow's injury comes just a week after his team-mate Colin Edwards broke his own collarbone at Catalunya - although the American is racing again at Silverstone this weekend.

"Our luck seems to have completely deserted us at the moment when you think it was only eight days ago that Colin broke his right collarbone," said Poncharal.

"I suppose the only small consolation for Cal is that Colin was back on the bike less than a week later, so we are optimistic that Cal will be back for the next race at Assen."

Edwards also sent his sympathy to Crutchlow.

"I'm gutted too for Cal," he said. "I know what he's going through unfortunately and I'm really sorry that he's going to miss his home race.

"I wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back giving me a hard time on track in Assen."