MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow stated that it was "important to see the flag" even though the results of the Portuguese grand prix was disappointing since it was his final MotoGP race with his current team.
The three-time Grand Prix winner started his race from fourth. He was declared as the fastest in the morning warm-up session before he went on with his qualifying session.
Cal Crutchlow and KTM's Pol Espargaro got into a battle for the position, however, with several mistakes and a big tyre drop-off, he was pushed back into 13th as the chequered flag came out.
"It is emotional to stop," he said. "I gave my all in the race and that's all I can ask of myself, as always. First of all, if we're talking about the race, I'm disappointed with the result because I was in a good position, I felt like I could have held a good position.
"But I had a real big rear tyre drop, maybe with the electronics and the mapping at the start of the race I was probably using a little too less traction control.
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"Evidently, I continued to fight and I flew off the track at 300km/h a few times into Turn 1. I never gave up, I went for it and that's the way it goes."
He added: "Problem was I couldn't do anymore. I was trying my best, I was still going for it.
"I wanted to finish my last race and that was another thing. It was important to see the flag.
"I wish I hadn't made one mistake, which was when I was behind Pol I ran off the track at Turn 1 and that was it because then I was in the clutches of six or seven guys, because I flew off the track again trying to fight back.
"I made my own mistake, I still believe that had I stayed behind Pol and not flown off the track I'd have been able to manage the tyre more to the end of the race.
"But it was one of those things. I'm pleased to have finished, because I started my career with a crash and I could have quite easily ended my career with a crash."
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Even as he was emotional after leaving the race behind, Crutchlow admitted that he is happy and is glad to end his career fighting "some of the best guys in the world". Overall, I'm happy to finish. I'm done," he said.
"It was nice to go out and have a battle in the race and fight with some of the best guys in the world. The guys I was battling with have won races this year, been on the podium many times."
