Cal Crutchlow exits Silverstone MotoGP Sprint after hitting Bastianini

Crutchlow's return to competitive MotoGP riding lasted only corners before contact with Bastianini ended his Sprint — a reminder of how unforgiving opening laps can be, especially for a rider stepping back in without a full race rhythm. His own account of hitting the back of Bastianini suggests he was caught in the kind of first-lap compression that punishes anyone slightly out of position. It's a frustrating data point for a comeback that needed clean mileage above all else.