MotoGP Motegi: 'Pissed off' Crutchlow 'can't ride' 2017 Honda in wet

The British rider was knocked out in Saturday's first segment qualifying after struggling in wet conditions he usually thrives in.

Crutchlow was a loss to explain why he was losing so much time to the works Hondas of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, who qualified third and sixth respectively.

He added that Marquez, who could have been on pole if not for a late gamble on a change to slick tyres that backfired, is now the best wet-weather rider in the field.

"No idea," said a despondent Crutchlow when asked about the root of his problems. "If I knew, I'd be fastest.

"I've been on pole, had podiums, won races in the rain. And now we can't even be in the top 15.

"Marc over the years has not been the best wet-weather rider out of everyone, and now he's by far the best. He can ride this bike.

"Jack [Miller, who is absent from Motegi] won a race last year [at Assen in full wet conditions], he's been nowhere in the rain this year.

"We're struggling at the moment to ride this bike with his engine in the rain. But that doesn't mean it's wrong, everyone else can do it.

"Sachsenring, Assen, Aragon... every time I rode in the rain this year it hasn't worked.

"Pissed off. I just can't ride it in the rain. 15th is the best we can do."

Asked where specifically he was giving away time to Marquez, Crutchlow quipped: "Everywhere. Leaving the pitlane, the whole lot."

On his goals for the race, he added: "To finish better than 15th, that's about it."