Cal Crutchlow is offered by the confinement imposed by the coronavirus a free sample of what a retired life could be like, a father at 34, with a body that no longer causes him pain. What makes you decide to abandon the competition, discovering a new meaning of life that Andrea Dovizioso, also from the same generation, seems to glimpse? The Englishman spoke to MotoGP.com and gave his answer…
Cal Crutchlow had not hidden, at the end of the 2020 season, that he finished his campaign exhausted with the feeling that he had perhaps reached the end of his body. The offseason was intense since he was the only driver Honda physically able to evaluate a new RC213V far from perfect. The start of the season promised to be demanding, then came this pandemic which stopped the world we knew…
The opportunity was there to sit down and really take stock. His boss Lucio Cecchinello had declared that talks for the next few years had begun. Cal Crutchlow had he evolved in his approach? The one who has three victories and twelve podiums in MotoGP answers: “ last year I said that 2020 might be my last year competing » he recognizes “ But my motivation at the end of last year was greater than ever and it remains unchanged today. SO there is no reason why I won't be in MotoGP next year »
However, we must pass the milestone of this original year 2020 of which we do not know what it will offer. It oscillates between the whole of a season concentrated in very few months, and nothing if the borders remain closed due to the pandemic… “ I am in a similar situation to that of 80% of the drivers in the paddock: for the moment we are not racing. In fact, we cannot speak with manufacturers and especially with Honda. »
Life at home, how he feels on his Honda and his motivation to continue 💪@calcrutchlow runs us through everything in his life at the moment ✨#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/XtWKa41wYd
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 9, 2020
It will be noted that Crutchlow does not exclusively mention the Tokyo firm. Could he have something in mind? “ I'm happy with my team, they've done a fantastic job over the last few years, but I will also definitely be talking with other teams and other manufacturers in the coming months. When we are able to start the season, we will see how it goes. »
« This doesn't mean I'm going to keep running or that I'm going to stop “, he finishes, “ but I think I still have a lot to give in MotoGP and I can still be competitive and fight. Maybe this will be my best year in MotoGP. »
Si Honda has built loyalty Marc Márquez until 2024, it would be wise to keep the Englishman warm. He is in fact the only one after the Spanish phenomenon to be able to bring back big points on an RC213V which is not the type to be given to the first comer. Finally, we will recall that Johann zarco has the experience of this machine as well as the team, having replaced a Nakagami who had chosen to end his season prematurely to have shoulder surgery.
