Cal Crutchlow was quite impressive in GermanyIndeed, the LCR rider, currently replacing Johann Zarco, battled with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Maverick Viñales during the Grand Prix, a feat not to be underestimated for a rider in his forties who retired from MotoGP full-time at the end of the 2020 season. The Englishman now faces the same challenges as his colleagues, particularly the tire pressure regulations that didn't exist in his day. As usual, his outspokenness was quick to make itself heard.
It's an understatement to say that the Englishman isn't a big fan of this new rule. If tire pressure is too low for a given period, heavy penalties can be applied. And since pressure varies with temperature, it can completely change the way the race is run. « No, but the rules are absurd, you know. Let us do what we want.I completely understand the safety concerns. But these rules are nonsense. That's why we can't race or overtake. Because of this rule, you have to slow down, you have to speed up… You just have to let us manage. » he declared for crash.net.
He explained how much this could influence performance. « If you are alone, the motorcycle will behave differently.But being behind someone is horrible, especially at the Sachsenring because there's nowhere to get out of the slipstream. I would have liked to be, say, three places ahead and be able to run my own raceBut I couldn't manage it. I had to try to push to catch up with the next person and to distance myself from the one behind me. he added.
However, he does not directly blame Michelin. “Listen, Michelin is doing an excellent job. They have always done an excellent job to remain so competitive for so many years in this championship.. » he concluded.
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Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport