MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow relishes chance to race against Valentino Rossi and ... - Coventry Telegraph

Dec 4 2010 by Christopher Finch, Coventry Telegraph

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COVENTRY’S Cal Crutchlow is relishing the chance to pit his wits against motorcycle racing’s elite next year, following his move to the premier MotoGP class alongside names like Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

Crutchlow joined the international stage from British Superbikes in 2009, winning the World Supersport Championship in a thrilling battle from Irishman Eugene Laverty at his first attempt, before stepping up to the more powerful World Superbike Championship last season on a Yamaha.

His impressive pace throughout the year, including six pole positions, and three wins, with the highlight a memorable double victory at Silverstone in August, caught the attention of his Yamaha bosses, who quickly signed him up to their satellite team in MotoGP, Tech 3.

“MotoGP is the pinnacle of racing,” he said. “The fastest guys in the world are there with the best machinery in the world, so when I got given the opportunity I thought-why not take it?”

Racing Superbikes are based on production models that are ridden on the road, with modifications made to make them more suitable for the track, and to increase speed and performance. However, the Grand Prix bike Crutchlow will be riding next year is an altogether different beast, a prototype, where designers have much more freedom. His 800cc engine Yamaha will produce 200 bhp and reach speeds of over 220 mph.

He admits it will be a tricky adaptation, saying: “The difference between them is night and day. It is like driving your usual road car, and then switching straight to a Formula 1 car - it is that vast.”

Crutchlow’s first taste of the MotoGP bike was a brief session in the wet in Japan, before a full two days of testing at Valencia following the conclusion of the 2010 season.

“Those first tests of the bike were just about riding, to be honest,” he said. “I had to go out there, get some laps under my belt and try to learn a MotoGP bike, because it is very different to anything I have ridden before. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and hopefully I can keep it up over the winter.”

Crutchlow follows in the footsteps of countryman James Toseland, a two-time World Superbike champion, who joined the Tech 3 Yamaha outfit in 2008. However, following two ultimately disappointing years at motorcycle racing’s top level, his contract was not renewed, and he found himself back in World Superbikes. Despite his lack of experience in comparison to Toseland, the 25-year-old feels he has made the move at the right time.

“At the end of the day, if you leave it too late, you will always be in World Superbikes. If I look around that paddock right now, a lot of the guys won’t be able to come because they will leave it and end up staying there forever.

“With the kids who are coming up from the 125cc and Moto2 championships, they are already in Grands Prix, so can attract the attention of the MotoGP teams much easier. This makes it very difficult for World Superbike riders to come across, so when you get the opportunity, you have to take it. I took it with both hands, and look forward to staying here for a long time to come.”

The 2011 season contains many tracks not used in World Superbikes that are completely new to Crutchlow and he knows has a tough task ahead.

“I’m going in there with open eyes. Learning the tracks and the bike will be difficult but that’s the job you’ve got to do in MotoGP.”

He is signed up for two seasons with the French-based squad and looks positively in particular to 2012, when a new class of machinery will replace the current 800cc bikes.

“We are moving to 1000cc bikes in the second year, which will mean everyone will have to learn the new bikes. Hopefully that will put me on more of an even level with them and I will do much better.”

The 18-round 2011 season kicks off with a night race in Qatar on March 20 and takes in four continents over nearly eight months, with Crutchlow’s home round at a newly reconfigured Silverstone on June 12.

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