Throughout this season, Crutchlow often pointed out that his Honda RC213V was not for everyone, that it was necessary to be called at least Marc Márquez to get all the quintessence out of it and that the HRC would be well inspired to build a more versatile and accessible machine. A speech apparently received in Tokyo which presented, during the two days of testing in Valencia, a new motorcycle which delighted all the votes among the official pilots of the winged coat of arms.
Marc Márquez says he is already ready, Dani Pedrosa is happy and the factory duo are so sure of their fact that they will not be testing at Jerez. And Cal Crutchlow ? The Englishman does not stand out in this concert of praise for the work accomplished. Which is enough to worry a competition that is still groping for the 2018 season… “ It was great to bring the 2018 prototype to Valencia » comments the man who finished his work in eighth position in the cumulative times, 0.621 sec behind the best time signed by Marc Márquez.
« Several things on the bike have changed. And in a good way. This first test gallop gave a good general idea that we will be able to work in Jerez. Of course, everything is not rosy but the whole thing is already very good. I don't know if the 2018 version is faster, but the feeling on a lap is good. We don't yet have enough perspective on the settings because the engine braking and the geometry still need to evolve. But I'm very happy. I only did two laps with my 2017 bike. Marc and Dani used theirs more often ».
Moreover, the best performances were achieved by these 2017 HRC machines. But the future looks good for Honda. Öhlins was also there for the LCR driver: “ I haven't tried their new fork yet. But the ones I tested also had both positive and negative aspects. There are advantages when cornering, but less when braking ».
Crutchlow will team up in 2018 with Nakagami who finished his first MotoGP tests eighteenth out of twenty-two competing riders.
#ValenciaTest MotoGP: Combined Chronos J1/J2
1. Marc Marquez (Honda), 1:30,033 min
2. Maverick Vinales (Yamaha), 1:30,189
3. Johann Zarco (Yamaha), 1:30,389
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda), 1:30,436
5. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1:30,519
6. Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati), 1:30,534
7. Jack Miller (Ducati), 1:30,635
8. Cal Crutchlow (Honda), 1:30,654
9. Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia), 1:30,756
10. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), 1:30,850
11. Andrea Iannone (Suzuki), 1:30,877
12. Pol Espargaro (KTM), 1:31,100
13. Bradley Smith (KTM), 1:31,202
14. Tito Rabat (Ducati), 1:31,386
15. Alex Rins (Suzuki), 1:31,516
16. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati), 1:31,721
17. Franco Morbidelli (Honda), 1:31,786
18. Takaaki Nakagami (Honda), 1,31,867
19. Scott Redding (Aprilia), 1:32,075
20. Karel Abraham, Ducati), 1:32,445
21. Xavier Siméon (Ducati), 1:32,698
22. Takumi Takahashi (Honda), 1:33,569
– More at SPEEDWEEK: http://www.speedweek.com/motogp/news/118950/Cal-Crutchlow-Sehr-zufrieden-mit-2018-Honda.html
