Just been officially announced that Crutchlow is leaving Ducati at the end of this season. It seems he is off to LCR Honda replacing Bradl... motogp.com · Iannone to replace Crutchlow at Ducati Team for 2015
Financially I think it was a good deal for Cal and I was not surprised he took it. I think he has been very lucky to be released, at least he may be able to get some results on a Honda.
Yet another rider putting the desire for 'Factory' at all costs in front of career, TBH the results have been predictable.
It's a shame but I think you are on the right track dude . I think the lad always had a lot of hardcore fans as he came up the ranks ,but yet again the head swells and takes on the appearance of Toseland with the hundred yard stare and then as the results become predictable everyone gets bored and the rider loses credibility ......Roll model ....Byrne , Walker , Witham, Rossi, need I go on?
Shrewd bit of contract negotiations by Mr Crutchlow, it appears: Realised early on that Ducati are not willing to do the necessary to make the bike competitive Wants to exercise the get-out option but doing so means he foregoes the €8m he's due in year 2 Publicly states he wants to stay and make a go of it at WDW Sits back and waits for the get-opt option window on his contract to close (July 31st) Forces Ducati's hand to pay him out of his contract, as they want Iannone on the factory but can't afford to run 3 bikes on the grid Takes up ride with factory-spec RCV and chance of running in top 3 on a regular basis Only potential fly in the ointment was LCR's negotiations with Bradl, where they made him an offer, apparently (although don't know what that would be, other than a pay cut?). All in all I'd say to Cal: "Good work, fella!"
2015 MotoGP field Repsol Honda – Marc Marquez & Dani Pedrosa Movistar Yamaha – Valentino Rossi & Jorge Lorenzo Ducati Team – Andrea Iannone & Andrea Dovizioso Suzuki Team – Aleix Espargaro & Maverick Vinales LCR Honda – Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha – Pol Espargaro & ???? NGM Forward Yamaha – Stefan Bradl & ???? Gresini Honda – Scott Redding & Jack Miller Pramac Ducati – Yonny Hernandez & ??? Aprilia – Eugene Laverty & Alvaro Bautista Italics = Not yet confirmed
LCR will be running a 2nd bike in the 'Open' class, thanks to the new UK-based sponsor CWM. Not sure who'll get the ride though.
Hope LCR Honda have plenty of spares in stock, never rated Crutchlow as Moto GP rider, not for not giving 100% and doing his best but he just hasn't got that last 5% to make him a GP rider. Sounds like he had his head screwed on though with contracts, best of luck to him.
No Bradley not been resigned yet by tech3, read that they are going to wait and see how he performs next couple of rounds.
Been very impressed with Maverick Vinales this year! Will be ace entertainment watching wrestle the new Susook in to submission!
