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Crutchlow: Honda, Not as Good as Me – Surprising Comments from Mugello
During Friday’s practice sessions at Mugello Circuit, 40-year-old Cal Crutchlow finished last in the 5N1K timing sheet. The LCR Honda rider was approximately one second slower than Michele Pirro, who was replacing Alex Marquez, and was considered a result of Pirro’s extensive experience with MotoGP motorcycles and regular training over many years. Crutchlow stated that he was experiencing unexpected difficulties on the track and with the motorcycle due to his inactivity in racing for approximately three years.
Physical Fatigue and Performance Issues
Following the first day’s program, Crutchlow highlighted physical strength as the most significant factor limiting his performance at the end of the day. “I feel good on the motorcycle,” he said. However, he stated that his power was diminishing towards the end of the session and that he was experiencing problems only when maintaining a specific pace, but was unable to reach the required level when pushing. “It’s like riding a bicycle; now I’m trying to suddenly ride a MotoGP motorcycle at Mugello.” This can be attributed to his prolonged absence from racing and difficulty adapting to the high-performance nature of the motorcycle.
Difficulties with Turns
Crutchlow noted that Mugello’s fast corner changes were particularly challenging for him. “These corner changes are really difficult because they happen with the throttle open,” he added. “That’s my main issue. If I’m changing direction with the throttle closed, I don’t have any problems. However, physically, I’m not at the level I was in the past.” This highlights the importance of physical endurance at high speeds and sudden throttle changes.
Criticism of Honda and Future Plans
“Honda has a great motorcycle. I think they’ve made huge progress compared to last year and the year before,” he stated with a striking comment, indicating that he had not yet fully adapted to the bike. Crutchlow announced that he had no intention of returning to a full-time racing career and that this role was merely a temporary assignment. “People think I’m trying to return to full-time racing, but that’s not going to happen. Neither to MotoGP nor any other series.” This suggests that Crutchlow is approaching the end of his racing career, or at least, is choosing to discontinue full-time participation.
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