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Human relations often vary greatly between drivers, depending on whether they are together in a fight on the track, or quietly chatting in the paddock. Another driver can be a formidable opponent, but at the same time one of the rare people who also truly understands racing at the highest level, with its sacrifices, its dangers, its glory, its sensations, its pleasure and the passion it generates .

As Cal Crutchlow explained to our friend Peter McLaren of crash.net, « I prefer to fight on the track rather than riding alone, it makes things more fun and makes things go faster. But just because you don't like your rivals on the track doesn't mean you don't have to like them off it.

“The way I look at this job, besides doing something we love, is that we all sacrifice the same things. We're all away from home, we're all traveling the world, and not many of us enjoy all the traveling.

“You all want the same thing, so you have to have some respect for other people because they are doing exactly the same thing as you. And when it's hard for you, there's no doubt that at some point they'll find it just as hard.

“I have this thought in my head. Others don't think beyond their own feet, because that's how they are. But maybe I see things from a different perspective.

“We are all in the same game together, we are all risking our lives together, you have to have some trust in the person sitting next to you.

“But does that mean you have to love them?” Not really. But do I like many of them? Yes. Do I not like any of them? Yes. But that doesn't mean I won't shake their hands.

“I know exactly the work they do day in and day out. Maybe it's easier for them sometimes, maybe it's harder. »

Asked about his relationship with the other British riders, the winner of the Brno and Phillip Island Grands Prix in 2016 in MotoGP replied: “ Obviously I get along well with Brad [Smith]. I got along well with him when he was my teammate. I don't particularly consider him the best driver in the world, but I don't consider myself the best driver in the world either.

" I like Sam Lowes, I like his attitude, he's one of my good friends. Scott [Redding] I don't get along well with him, but that's fine, I don't worry about that. But I still wish them good luck and I want them to have a good season.

“Actually, it all depends on their attitude. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t always had the best attitude! So I'm not saying I'm an angel. But I get along well with Dovi, Marc, Vale… I don't get along particularly well with Dani, but it's not because he hit me at Mugello last year, that's nothing to have ! [Laughs]. »

“You have 24 different riders and half of them are under half a second. It's 12 riders with different weights, sizes, bikes, brains, whatever, and they manage to go around the track at the same speed. The only difference between us may be our attitude or our spirit.

“In the end, we all want the same thing. One guy may be calmer than the other in everyday life, but does that mean he's not crazy on the track? »

Photos © Motogp.com / Dorna, LCR

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