When you invite a Cal Crutchlow at an event, it's best to first make sure he's on the same page as you. Otherwise, you have a free electron and a wolf in the fold who will destroy your entire communication plan carefully developed for the occasion. This is what happened on the sidelines of a Qatar Grand Prix which launched the 2018 MotoGP season and which also wanted to mark the occasion on a sensitive subject for high-level sport: the fight against doping. Messages and good intentions poured out. Then Cal Crutchlow arrived to torpedo everything…
First the hushed official speech of a Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO – Dorna Sports obviously mobilized in the fight against doping: “ the FIM and Dorna have been working jointly on the subject for several years. Actually, this is a very important topic, especially for them as organizers of the World Championship. As our sport develops, the physical aspect occupies an increasingly important place. It therefore seemed essential to us to educate drivers about the correct behavior to have on and off the track in terms of anti-doping. »
Le Dr. McManus, Medical Director – FIM concludes: “ This briefing is an excellent opportunity to interact with the drivers, raise their awareness of the risks linked to doping and highlight the anti-doping campaign led by the FIM, especially at the start of the season. We are pleasantly surprised by the involvement of the pilots in this campaign. We would also like to send a special thank you to Dorna for their supportnot. »
The pilots, symbolically materialized their mobilization on a board. A beautiful unit which was consumed when Cal Crutchlow arrived and spoke on crash.net : " If you think there are people here in the major sport of motorcycling who aren't trying to break these rules, then you're an idiot.t”. And he ends: “ I think the way the whole championship is handling this issue is not good. But what I'm saying here, I've been repeating it for four years already ».
Clearly, the opprobrium is launched. But against whom? The LCR pilot does not go that far. But gives some food for thought: “ there are voluntary monitoring procedures but very few make the effort to put them in place. How do we know if those who are not being followed are clean? Some have up to seven coaches! I don't understand. If they have nothing to reproach themselves for then why don't they have the courage to say that we can control them at any time? »
It also explains the current controls… “ It's a joke! I have only been checked once in 365 days and never after. Then only once after that. Finally, in the last two years, I have never been checked. Jack Miller, on the other hand, has been checked twice in the last three years ". But what type of doping would take place in Grand Prix? “ It's about rehydrating faster and controlling your weight. » explains the Englishman who ends: “ but this meeting was interesting. I listened and didn't learn anything I already know ". Close the ban!
