Monster Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow is expecting a tough time at this weekend's Sepang MotoGP round after a pair of difficult tests earlier in the year showed not only is it a hard track to learn, the heat and humidity make it a physically-challenging race.

Crutchlow didn't fare too well in the opening two tests placing second to last in the first one and then seeing some improvement in the second set but the Coventry man now has almost a full season under his belt so is hopes his experience will count towards a result.

"To be honest the two tests at the beginning of the year weren't easy at all. Sepang is not only difficult from a physical point of view with the heat and humidity but the circuit was incredibly hard to learn. It is long and very wide, so even though I've been here twice before on the YZR-M1, I'm expecting a tough weekend," said the former World Supersport Champion.

"Physically I'm fine after Phillip Island. I've got a few bumps and bruises but what hurt more is that I could have had an eighth place and that's a shame because those points would have been good for the Championship. Since I was here in Sepang earlier in the year I have gained so much experience about the bike and tyres and I'm looking forward to picking up a strong result.”