Cal Crutchlow had surgery on his ankle twice, after a heavy fall at Phillip Island which put him on layoff. While recovering, he followed the first tests of the 2019 MotoGP off-season both in Valencia and Jerez. He saw the behavior of the Hondas and the progress of Jorge Lorenzo. Enough to give him ants in his legs...
However, we will have to wait for the end of the winter break, pronounced as soon as the checkered flag was lowered in Jerez. A rest period which will extend until next February and Sepang tests which the LCR driver intends to sign on his return.
"Everything is fine. I'm in California, I'm recovering well, I'm doing my best. Sepang? I don't know, I'll do my best to be there.", immediately declares the LCR driver before reassuring his fans on the official website MotoGP.com, “Obviously you know the extent of the injury to my tibia, fibula and heel bone at the ankle. It was a big one, a very, very big one! I had a fantastic surgery and a fantastic surgeon who reconstructed everything very well. I have good mobility in my ankle so far, about four or five weeks before returning to normal. It's going well, don't get me wrong, it's going well. I plan to be back at Sepang, there’s no doubt about it. But if it was next week, there would be no chance, I know it! »
Cal Crutchlow then explains how his recovery is going before discussing his absence from pre-season testing and Jorge Lorenzo's adaptation to the Honda.
« Yes, of course, I am now looking forward to riding the 2019 bike for the first time » admits the teammate of a Nakagami who finished the year at the top of the hierarchy. “ At the same time, I am disappointed not to have been able to attend the two winter tests. Because it is important that Honda receives crucial information on the direction development should take to improve the machine ».
It develops : " Marc and I know her very well. Jorge no. However, he can use the information collected from Yamaha and Ducati to share his experience. But it cannot fail to synthesize with what we have used over the last two years. So Marc took on the role of development rider and we all know how smart Marc is… Marc knows how to ride a bike. He also understands how to develop a motorcycle. But it's always good to hear a second opinion. For example, mine ».
Cal Crutchlow, a three-time MotoGP winner, is not surprised by Lorenzo's rapid adaptation to the Honda. “ Of course I'm impressed “, he admits. “ My assessment is that he is a five-time world champion. He knows how to ride a motorcycle. He will get used to the Honda. So far, it looks like he's only competitive in one round. But his general pace is not very fast at the moment. He has to get to know the bike better, and that's not an easy task, we know. But if he manages to set up the bike well, he can undoubtedly be involved at the front ».
He finishes : " do I think if Marc pushed 100% in both tests? No. But he is very intelligent. He can therefore identify the situation and inform the engineers. I think the bike will be better in 2019 than this year. I am looking forward to this challenge. And I'm looking forward to my return at the beginning of February to Sepang. Then I can give my opinion and keep things moving until the next test in Qatar in February ».
