Cal Crutchlow makes big revelation ahead of Hungary MotoGP debut

Although Cal Crutchlow was unable to finish the 23-lap Mugello MotoGP last weekend, the British rider does not require surgery after suffering a suspected muscle tear near his left scapula. 

Crutchlow’s surprise return to MotoGP is continuing at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix at Balaton Park, where he is once again replacing the injured Johann Zarco at LCR Honda.

Out of action since the Japanese MotoGP in 2023, Crutchlow made an impressive return to the sport after being in full-time retirement since the end of 2020. However, during those five years Crutchlow made several wildcard and stand-in appearances for Yamaha as part of his test rider role with the company, which officially ended in 2025.

But Crutchlow’s expectations heading into this weekend are pretty low, with the 40 year-old simply pleased to avoid having surgery. 

Speaking ahead of Friday’s practice, Crutchlow said:  

“Obviously, after the race, I stayed in Italy. I went for some MRI scans, got the diagnosis, [and] understood what the problem is. But, I’m here in Hungary. I can try and ride with it. I don’t know. We’ll see. Obviously, in the race I didn’t feel too bad, but I knew it was not possible to finish the last race.

“Do I think it’s got any better? Potentially, but it’s not a thing that will get better overnight. Luckily it’s not a surgery thing, which is good, because I don’t need that at 40 years old. But it is what it is. It’s going to be difficult, challenging, because also I don’t know the circuit; I’ve never been here.”

Crutchlow is also content with the idea that he might finish last in the majority, if not all of the sessions this weekend. Some of that could also be down to the fact that Crutchlow is making his debut at Balaton Park, which was only introduced on the MotoGP calendar in 2025.

While being tongue in cheek about what other riders might be planning, Crutchlow added: 

“The problem is, I’ll get 45 minutes in the morning, and then in the afternoon you start to hyperventilate because everyone is throwing 15 tyres to get into Q2. But luckily I’m never going to get into Q2, so it doesn’t f***ing matter. I can just continue to ride around. I can have about 10 sets of tyres on Sunday because I’ve got them left over from Friday!

“I’ll see how it is. Again, I know I’ll be last in every session. I know I’ll be last on the grid, and I know I’ll finish last. And I’m ok with that, because this is a building process, let’s say, at the moment.”

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