MotoGP: Crutchlow interview

Crutchlow on leading MotoGP’s points race and the fallout from Argentina

British MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow leads the premier bike racing class – something that has not happened for nearly 40 years. He is three points clear of last year’s runner-up, Andrea Dovizioso, after taking fourth place at the opening round in Qatar and winning last time out in Argentina. It’s the first time a British rider has led the series since Barry Sheene in 1979.

But with another 17 rounds to go in what will be Grand Prix racing’s longest ever season, the LCR Honda rider says he isn’t getting carried away with things just yet. He spoke exclusively to MCN from his Isle of Man home…

What does it feel like to be leading the MotoGP championship?

I’m not saying that it hasn’t sunk in, but I don’t think it changes the job that I’ve got to do. It’s a nice feeling and it’s the first time that I’ve done it but you want to be leading it when it counts not after the second race of the year. Of course, to be the first British guy since Sheene to top the table is humbling, because to even be mentioned in the same sentence as him is incredible. But he led the championship lots of times and had a lot of wins, and it’s only the second round of the year. At the end of the day, you can easily lose the lead at the next race, so we’ve just got to continue doing what we’re doing.

Do you think you can hold on to the lead at the next race in Texas at the weekend?

I finished fourth there last year and had a good race but the problem with the Honda is that the first seven changes of direction are quite difficult. It works well in the other sectors, so we end up with quite a yo-yo race if you’re battling with someone on another brand of bike. We’ve just got to work hard to improve the bike at the start of the lap. Whether or not I’ll lead the championship on Sunday night, I don’t know, but I’ll go in with an open mind as always and do my best in every session.

I’m not going with any higher expectations. I’ll aim for a top five there just the same as I did last year, because it’s a difficult circuit for us. Marquez is incredible there and has been for years, but that doesn’t mean everyone else on a Honda is, too – it’s more a case of him making the difference there. But we can be top five and I’d come away happy with that.

Is it fair to say that the Honda is a little easier to ride this year?

The Honda is a good bike, but the engine last year wasn’t fast enough and we asked many times for more power. We got that this year, and it makes it easier for us to be fast and be competitive because you can imagine how much we had to push in the corners last year to make up that difference. But the engine is stronger now and we don’t have to push as hard, which means that all the Honda riders can be more competitive without taking as many risks. It comes with its downsides too, because the bike was already physical to ride and more power makes that harder.

Do you feel you got the respect you deserved in Argentina?

“It seems like there was a real lack of respect from most of the media for the show that we put on in Argentina. They’re looking to grab headlines about what else happened, but the real headlines to me were the three guys on the podium who risked a lot and fought hard for themselves and the teams. “I’ve been in MotoGP long enough to understand how it works. When I talked about the media in Argentina, I wasn’t after the recognition for leading the championship or winning, but the other guys and I had battled hard. There were two satellite bikes on the podium and four manufacturers in the top four and Alex Rins got his first podium. It wasn’t about me, it was more that I think we put on a good show and the big story didn’t just need to be about something between other riders that will hopefully sort itself out.”

O For the record; MCN were there!