CRUTCHLOW’S WINNING GOAL
Hard-charging Brit is close to full fitness and has a factory bike for 2019
There are few people lining up on the 2019 MotoGP grid hungrier than British rider Cal Crutchlow. With a point to prove in 2018 he was set for a strong end to the season, but denied the chance to add to his win tally: first when his home race was rained off at Silverstone and again when a freak crash at Phillip Island shattered his ankle and ended his season prematurely. Now three times a race winner, most recently in Argentina last year, and undoubtedly the most successful satellite rider in a decade, he’s going into the season with high hopes, despite lining up on what may be the toughest grid ever in the series’ 70-year history.
1 He’s on a factory bike
Crutchlow has been a factorysupported rider for a few years now, but he’s going to make another step up in 2019 as he moves to a full HRC contract. Now established as a key member of the Japanese race department’s development programme, he’s become even more valuable this year as both Marc Marquez and new-signing Jorge Lorenzo face injury woes.
And while he might not be on an orange Repsol Honda, he should see an improvement in the speed with which he receives the latest factory parts. Finally set to test the fabled carbon fibre swingarm, it’s parts like that which will help him close the gap to his rivals and to Marquez and Lorenzo, and could well make all the difference when it comes down to his famous late-race charges.
2 He’s hungrier than ever
There’s nothing that’s guaranteed to make a motorbike racer hungrier than denying them the chance to win through circumstances outside their control, but that’s exactly what happened to Crutchlow in the second half of 2018 and it’s only made him more motivated for the coming season.
At 33 years old, but still at the top of his game, he has a huge desire to make even more of a mark on the MotoGP championship than he already has. Already securing a place in history when he became the first British premier class Grand Prix race winner since Barry Sheene, Crutchlow has everything in place to add to his win tally.
‘Cal is at his peak and hungrier than ever’
3 He’s got nothing to lose
Now firmly seen as Honda’s third rider and liked by factory bosses back in Japan, Crutchlow’s future with the manufacturer looks almost certain. And with that certainty comes free reign to do what he does best and strike his own course. Unafraid to take the fight to his fellow Honda riders even when they’ve got a championship on the line or to risk his neck more than others, gives him a slight edge over his opponents in a sport where the smallest weaknesses are ruthlessly exploited.
Unlikely to find himself in a position to battle for a championship due to being in a satellite team, it’s a strength that he can utilise by convincing his rivals that he’s happy to throw caution to the wind when the win is at stake.
4 He’s done it before
Confidence breeds success, and there’s a reason why after an agonising wait of six seasons, he managed to pick up two race wins in the space of only six races. Never one to be lacking self confidence, taking wins in Brno, Phillip Island and most recently Termas de Rio Hondo seems to have got the gremlin off his back. Knowing that he can dice with the best of them and even ride away from them; it means that he won’t hesitate to try it again.
And there are plenty of tracks where has proved to be a pacesetter. Fast at the three circuits where he’s already won, he’s also no slouch at the likes of Misano, Motegi and his home race at Silverstone, and will be going to those events more confident than ever. He could add to his win tally in 2019.
5 His injury problems are behind him
It’s only five months since Crutchlow shattered his ankle in a practice crash at Phillip Island, falling hard at the Australian circuit’s notoriously fast turn one when gusting winds pushed him wide. Suffering a fracture to his ankle that doctors told him could take 12 months to heal, he was back cycling only a few weeks later and able to return to MotoGP action in a little over three months. And while he’s still got some niggling issues to address with the ankle, he’s well on the road to recovery. Currently using a larger boot to cope with swelling and to add some extra protection, he’s struggling to manage how he uses the rear brake. But considering the severity of his injuries, he’s happy that is the only current side effect.
Fitter than ever thanks to a hard winter of training with pro cyclist friend, Mark Cavendish, there’s no problems with his overall fitness despite the injury, and he’ll be raring to go come Qatar’s opening race. He’s a battler.