Cal Crutchlow is a genuine character in a slick MotoGP paddock. A character trait that the coronavirus crisis has not damaged. On the contrary, he candidly recounts a family confinement in California bordering on idleness. And for good reason: with no return date in sight, he is not going to exhaust himself in vain in an intense training program. At 34, he has better things to do…
In their confinement, the riders practically all communicate that they are continuing intense physical training to release their frustration at being away from their motorcycle, and to be ready to join a circuit to do a Grand Prix as soon as possible. For when, we don't know, and that's precisely the problem that a Cal Crutchlow who frankly admits that he barely talks to keep up. Which also means enjoying life while waiting for things to become clearer.
The driver of a team Honda LCR who really suffers from this situation declares to Simon Patterson on Speedweek. com : " I love the Isle of Man and would have loved to stay there. But I came to California because the first race should have been in Austin! And because I'm already here, I'm going stay here until it's time to go back to Europe and run. » Hoping that airlines and entry and exit from territories will be a reality...
But the Englishman isn't thinking about that yet. Because this moment is not defined, which leads him to wonder about his colleagues who are constantly training… “ The others are all crazy and running at full speed! It doesn't make sense for me to train now like it's January until we have a set date to get back on the bike “, he explained.
« In January, I did 30 hours a week on my bike, now it's 22 with a much slower pace. I don't give it my all and don't worry too much. I also eat what I want because we will race again in two months at the earliest », added the team member Nakagami. " If you act now as if it is January, then in August you will be destroyed. If you have no goals and no set dates, it is very difficult to develop a training plan. But let them all do it and let them completely exhaust themselves! Exercise is great, but I move around instead of training hard. I'm just having fun on my bike for as long as possible. »
Restrictions were imposed relatively quickly in California. Cycling is allowed outside. “ I stay two meters away from everyone, I ride alone and not in a group, but it doesn't differ much from what I normally do. There are no restrictions at the moment not to go out. It is therefore in the rules and recommendations of the government ", confirmed Crutchlow. " I'm lucky that I can still do it because I know a lot of people just can't. In Britain, the Isle of Man and the United States, it was well done that people were allowed to play sports outdoors. But I'm not saying that Italy, Spain and other countries were wrong. »
« Here in California, the rules say you can be outside playing sports, but you can't just hang out. Many area trails are also closed. I live near a military base where police helicopters are stationed, and we can see them hovering over people who are still traveling asking them to go home “, declared the Briton.
« The weather is amazing right now, it's warm and it's nice to be able to enjoy it. It's of course not a good thing that everyone is going through this difficult time, but you just have to make the best of the situation. I ride my bike every day, plus once every two weeks to go shopping and that's it. And confinement really teaches you a few things, like freezing your food ", ended Crutchlow which still has nothing concrete for 2021…
