BRITON’S Cal Crutchlow has confirmed that should the chance arise for a wildcard ride in the 2021 MotoGP championship, he might take up the offer.
The news comes from the Spanish racing website Motosan, who caught up with Yamaha’s new test rider after the first days of the Qatar test.
Cal also confirmed that he’d been having a tough but rewarding time getting to grips with the latest generation Yamaha M1 MotoGP machine.
Of particular note was Cal’s comments on the ergonomics of the new M1. He’s sharing the bike with two Japanese riders and without the time to completely change the pegs, seat, and bars, the riding position is not what he’d want.
He said:
“These three days I am not expecting too much in particular. After sharing the bike with the other two Japanese riders, we will keep the same ergonomics on the bike, which is very difficult”.
It’s not just the riding position, all the suspension settings, electronics, and brakes will also be a one-size-fits-all solution for the pool of test riders.
Could Cal Crutchlow make a MotoGP wildcard ride this season?
When quizzed on whether he would make a return to competitive action this season, Cal’s answer was one that will make his fans across the world very happy indeed. He didn’t categorically confirm it, but if the chance came up, there’s a chance the Brit would again compete in the class.
“[A wildcard ride] is not in my plans, but we will hope that Yamaha will see how it goes. I am also the substitute rider, so if Yamaha asked me for a weekend… But I have no idea, if you look at last year yes, I would be racing. But first I have to get comfortable with the bike, pick up speed, and do my job. And my job is to try things to test the sensations with the bike. We will see how it will be”.
Wildcard riders in MotoGP were suspended in 2020, meaning that only official reserve riders could enter the series in place of another member of the team as their stand-in. The change for 2021 to reinstate Wildcard entries does indeed open the door for Crutchlow to compete again this season, regardless of whether Yamaha has a full complement of riders or not.
There is also no full-time Briton in the top-flight this year, something that Dorna is clearly worried about as it could adversely affect ticket sales at the home GP and also TV and online subscriptions. Could a Silverstone homecoming be on the cards?
Photos from MotoGP.com
