Cal Crutchlow is still amazed: this is how MotoGP has changed

Cal Crutchlow most recently rode as a stand-in for Johann Zarco at LCR-Honda. In Aragon, the 40-year-old Briton was back in the MotoGP paddock, just in case returnee Johann Zarco still had any issues. Crutchlow most recently set his fastest ever lap on the LCR-Honda at Silverstone and has competed in six races

Crutchlow appeared as a co-commentator on the MotoGP.com live stream on Friday afternoon in Aragon. The crowd favourite, who stepped down as a regular rider after the 2020 season, compared the current situation: “The standard is like this now – it feels as though there are about 15 riders at the same level. Back then, there were five lads right at the front, then came the others, and after that the rest.”

The family man also noted: “It’s tricky when it comes to the actual racing. I have to say, it’s brilliant to watch the MotoGP races as a fan – seeing how it’s all growing under Dorna and Liberty. I watch the races at home; I’m a fan like most people around the world. What they’ve done with the social media content, the entertainment and all the visibility is extraordinary – but it’s a nightmare for all the riders!’

Auch in Aragon im MotoGP-Fahrerlager: Cal Crutchlow

Foto: Gold and Goose

Crutchlow explained: “The riders don’t have any time left. They can provide less input because everything is so tightly scheduled, and they don’t have time to spend in the garage. There are commitments – then there’s rehab, because we have 44 races. There simply isn’t enough time. I don’t want to say they’re having problems, but it’s more difficult. It’s simply much more tiring than it used to be. It was difficult for me to get back into it. Take the warm-up, for example, where you can’t even get the tyres up to temperature. But it’s better than nothing. Still, it’s the same for all riders and they have to make the best of it.”

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The Brit continued: “Marc is still the best rider – but he’s struggling. He’ll approach the rest of this World Championship as if it were an endurance race and only attack when he has to. He’ll try not to have a really bad weekend, which is bound to happen to the other lads at some point. If you ask me, I’d say that after Marc, Ai Ogura is my favourite.”

Crutchlow added: “I know why, too – with him, it’s the same as it used to be with Dani Pedrosa: his weight. He doesn’t burn through the tyres straight away, so he has more in reserve towards the end. But that also means he can’t push flat out right from the start. Hot races are also better for him. I don’t think the rider who wins the most races will be crowned World Champion. Almost all the riders have already missed races. It’s a mad World Championship. Jorge Martin seems to be the only rider who’s been reasonably consistent at the moment – he hasn’t usually been consistent.”

And: Crutchlow wouldn’t be Crutchlow without a cheeky quip: “Lucio Cecchinello seems to have aged backwards. He looks better now than he did back when I was riding for him. Maybe I really am to blame for that.”

LCR-Teamboss Lucio Cecchinello

Foto: Gold and Goose