The new concession points in the regulations were unanimously adopted by the manufacturers under the leadership of Dorna, and both Yamaha and Honda are the big beneficiaries. They now have to take advantage of it, which surprisingly does not seem so obvious on the side of the Iwata brand where test driver Cal Crutchlow seems reluctant to do more than is necessary. Rather than questioning himself, he prefers to take refuge behind the specious argument of the eight motorcycles that Ducati has on the track, forgetting that the Italian brand only responded to the teams' request while Yamaha did not. He didn't even know how to keep his own satellite team which today has Aprilias in its box.
Cal Crutchlow was at Valencia test to help official Yamaha riders fabio quartararo and the newcomer alex rins in their preparation for the 2024 MotoGP season. An escapade which ended with 20th place, just behind alex rins. Fabio Quartararo On this occasion the M1 was the fastest in twelfth place.
During this offseason test, it was discussed new points of concession to the regulation, dividing manufacturers into different value groups according to their results in a given period. Yamaha as an Honda, finds itself in the weakest group, authorizing the greatest generosity with the common law: a substantial annual tire allowance, the possibility of doing as many tests as one wants and on any circuit, around ten engines that we can evolve during the season and two aero evolutions that we can offer. But also, and especially with regard to Cal Crutchlow, six Wildcards.
Cal Crutchlow: “ I know two of the Wildcards, but the other is currently being negotiated because I absolutely wouldn't want to do it! »
The Englishman has only done one in 2023, at Motegi as part of the Japanese Grand Prix. It will therefore eventually be necessary to speed up the pace. But although his brand is in crisis, he has demands. At the microphone of motogp.com, he declared: “ This is all quite new and with the new rules many different scenarios could happen. We already had a plan that I would do three Wildcards and I don't think I will do more. But things change, just like the rules change ».
Then he adds: “ I know two of the Wildcards, but the other is currently being negotiated because I absolutely wouldn't want to do it! So we circle around that a little bit. ". It is therefore not even certain that Yamaha uses half of the new opportunity he was given to work on his M1 during an open competition.
Rather than dwelling on his guilty reluctance given the stakes for his employer, Cal Crutchlow prefers to bring out the well-known argument of the eight Ducati on the track, which nevertheless has less strength with the new concession points which also reduces the opportunities for development of the Italian brand upstream: “ what Yamaha lacks is motorcycles on the track. We only have the two from the factory team, so we have to do all the tests possible in pre-season. I think it really bothers our drivers. Other manufacturers have up to eight bikes on the track at one time and can test more with their riders. We hope to have a better distribution next year ". And if Cal Crutchlow had had its time and Yamaha also needed another test driver?
