Cal Crutchlow to replace Johann Zarco at Italian MotoGP

Three-time MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow is set for a surprise return at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello, where he will stand-in for the injured Johann Zarco.

It will be Crutchlow’s first race in MotoGP since the 2023 season, where he competed for Yamaha at the Japanese Grand Prix. Crutchlow retired from full-time racing at the end of the 2020 season, before joining Yamaha as a test rider. 

Crutchlow competed in a total of 11 races for the Iwata-based company during his three-year spell as an official test rider. Prior to that, Crutchlow was a full-time rider for the LCR Honda team from 2015 until the end of the 2020 campaign. 

Crutchlow is replacing Zarco after the Frenchman suffered a horrific accident at the Catalan GP. Zarco got tangled up in Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati as part of a multi-rider pile-up that also included Luca Marini.

Despite suffering the injury nearly two weeks ago, Zarco is yet to undergo surgery on his knee. The two-time MotoGP race winner will also miss the Suzuka 8 Hours race on 5 July, and will instead be replaced by factory HRC WorldSBK rider Somkiat Chantra. 

Speaking ahead of his MotoGP return, Crutchlow said:  

"First of all, I wish Johann Zarco a smooth recovery. As a rider, it’s never easy to face situations like these. As for this weekend, I have great memories with LCR; the years we spent together were amazing. So, when I received the call to replace Zarco, I felt privileged and honored, and I had to give it a try. We know it will be an intense weekend, but I’m ready to give my best alongside the rest of the team and make the most of it. Let’s see how it goes!”

While it might come as a surprise that Crutchlow is making a return to MotoGP, the British rider was reported to be testing at Misano on Wednesday with a view to replacing Zarco.

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