Crutchlow on MotoGP

[xzpolskix]

Crutchlow joining MotoGP "with open eyes"



BRITISH MOTOGP hopeful Cal Crutchlow has said he is going into premier MotoGP class racing "with open eyes" when he joins the Tech 3 Yamaha squad for the 2011 MotoGP series.

Crutchlow, who replaces Ben Spies in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3, is stepping up to premier class racing following a successful year in World Superbikes.

The former World Supersport Champion impressed Yamaha top brass with his 2010 performances, which included six pole positions and three race wins in his first year of WSB competition. Now the Coventry-born rider is eyeing up success in MotoGP but is going into the series with realistic expectations:

“MotoGP is the pinnacle of racing,” Crutchlow told the Coventry Telegraph. “The fastest guys in the world are there with the best machinery in the world, so when I got given the opportunity I thought-why not take it?”

Crutchlow tested Yamaha's M1 racer at Japan and then Valencia last month, and admitted switching from production-based WSB racers to cutting-edge MotoGP machines was a big step:

“The difference between them is night and day. It is like driving your usual road car, and then switching straight to a Formula 1 car - it is that vast.

“Those first tests of the bike were just about riding, to be honest,” he said. “I had to go out there, get some laps under my belt and try to learn a MotoGP bike, because it is very different to anything I have ridden before. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and hopefully I can keep it up over the winter.

“I’m going in there with open eyes. Learning the tracks and the bike will be difficult but that’s the job you’ve got to do in MotoGP.”

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Wonder if he'll have the same success Spies did in 2010.

[Razorback]

So it will be Crutchlow and Edwards right?

[xzpolskix]

Yea, for Tech3. Then obviously Spies and Whoregay for the Factory team which I'm not sure about if they are staying with Fiat or not.

[Razorback]

I read where they (Moto GP) are looking at a possible new race venue in Texas to expand the circuit out of Europe A group is thinking about building a new track to use for Moto Gp and F-1 cars.

[xzpolskix]

Yea, that track is supposed to be pretty nice. I would say if they get rid of Indy then they should at the least go to Texas. I think it would be stupid for them to get rid of the 2 stops they got here in the States.

[Razorback]

are they talking about dumping Indy?

[xzpolskix]

Yea I heard 2 things.
-Dropping Indy
-Putting Indy and Laguna Seca on back to back weekends

Personally, understand why putting the tracks on back to back weekends, but dropping it all together I think is a bad idea.

[Razorback]

Yea me too I have heard the Gp riders like Indy

[xzpolskix]

I'm gonna try to make it out to Laguna Seca this year, but we'll see how funds are at that time. Indy is a for sure, good times.

[Razorback]

I see they announced a change to the grid In Moto Gp next year, from a four man row to a three!