While in arguably the form of his career, Cal Crutchlow has refused to get carried away, admitting that a 2017 title challenge would be "a big ask", but feels his recent showings demonstrate he is worthy ꦇof receiving more factory support.

Crutchlow eased to his second MotoGP win in six races at Phillip Island, firstly through applying pressure to early leader Marc Marquez, before holding off a🉐 Valentino Rossi push with the minimum of fuss to come home four seconds clear.

The resuဣlt was a continuation of Crutchlow's excellent form in the second half of 2016, boosted by a HRC new chassis from the Brno test and continual advancements 𓄧with electronics, meaning that since the German Grand Prix in July, only Marquez has scored more points than the Englishman.

"At the moment, and with things the way we are and with what we get from Honda, I don't know if I can be a title contender," said the 30-year old, now sixth overall in the world championship, and comfortably the 🏅best-placed 'Satellite' rider.

"It would be a big as♒k to 💙be a title contender next year, but that doesn't stop me from trying.

"If I keep getting these good results then we can be, and while the results I'm getting at the minut🔥e are good enough for the bike we have, maybe one day I want to target the title. The problem is, these guys around me are fast - so it was nice to get one over on them.

"We can definitely improve, and even in th🉐e race on Sunday I could have improved in soꦕme areas. But I was in the rhythm and couldn't be arsed to try. I was riding comfortably, but I could have tried some things with the throttle or with the brake.

"But it's easi🥂er to try those things when you're in a battle, and out at the front on my own I didn't really want to push any buttons or do anything a little different.

"I still thin🍌k I can improve as a rideꦜr - there are things that I could do better. Off the track, there are not many things I could improve - sure, maybe I could be a little more diplomatic sometimes, but for the things I do to prepare for a race, there's no one who puts in as much as me and my family."

At Assen in June Crutchl𒆙ow announced that he would stay with the LCR Honda squ🎶ad for a third season in 2017.

While acknowledging that receiving a bike equal to the Repsol Honda squad throughout the year will b🐲e very unlikely, the Englishman feels that recent performances show his ability to consistently mix with the best the class has to offer.

"A factory bike isn't going to happen, and I'm happy with my team, but maybe I deserve more support from my factory. When I rode for Yamaha, I had good support from the factory and got offered a contract to stay again. We get good support, but I think they should be helping me 𒁃mor🍸e and LCR as a team more.

"It's disappointing 🌌to win a race and not see the boss at the press conference, because if you were in another factory they would be [her🌄e]. I know there are people there internally that really help me, and that there are people internally that don't like them for doing it.

"But that's racing, and it's a cutthroat business - and at the end of the🌃 day, it is a business. It's a sport and a business, but unfortunately they see i🌠t as just a business, a lot of them - and we have better emotion than them when we do win."