Monster Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow has sparked speculation he may be in talks with Ducati for a seat in the works squad next season after saying he wouldn't be afraid of riding the GP12 and that he is in conversation with a team other than his current satellite squad. Crutchlow said that his riding style is similar to Casey Stoner's and that the Aussie is the only rider that has been able to make the Ducati, in any of its incarnations, work properly. "I'm not afraid of it. It's a bike, you just try and ride it the best you can. You have to look at Valentino, he is still one of the best riders in the world. Last week, he never won the race but is shows what he is capable of. Something at the minute isn't clicking but you can never be sure, he could turn up at the next race and win by a minute," said Crutchlow, speaking at Montmelo. "If I look to my riding style and Casey's riding style, how we open the gas and how we brake - obviously he is a second a lap faster half the time - it's similar and he is the only one who has been able to ride the Ducati. Am I scared to take a chance and go there? No. "Of course I'm talking to people. At the end of the day, Herve signed Bradley and maybe that's the best thing that ever happened. Obviously, I never had a contract for next year but that makes by decision a bit easier, if I have got a decision to make. We're talking to people and we have been approached by a team but as far as I am concerned, I still have a job here." Curtosey of BSN All I can say to that is good man, if he can push for a 3 year deal (no doubt 2) then the future may be looking up for us Ducati British motogp fans. Ok so they've gotta sort the bike but Cals the sort of bloke who'll try, try and try again, he'll adapt and his style is ragged enough to get some results I reckon. Plus if VR stays on board he couldn't get a better mentor, personally I hope he's being offered a deal
Fair play to Cal, but as for Vale I'd love to see min on a competitive Honda for the last two years of his career seeing as he dosent have time to get the Ducati developed.
I hope this happens...... but i think cal is learning fast! (on using the press to bag a bigger pay cheque) :wink: Can't blame him for that! I bet They regret signing Bradley smith now (the great british flop)
I cant see that going ahead, how could Herve Poncheral seriously ditch Cal or Dovi for Bradders. The best thing you can say is that his talents are distinctly average and he is leagues behind Ianone,Marquez,Vignales and others . A waste of time
If Herve has any brains he'll build a CRT for the ginger let down to meet his contractual obligations and keep the current riders
I'd say if anyone has a riding style like Stoner it'd be Redding,I'd rather see Cal go to Factory Yam.
Look at all the world class riders that have ridden the ducati, and look what it's done to their careers. Unless Rossi/Burgess suddenly manage to make a silk purse out of it, it'll be a bad move for Cal, he'll certainly be further away from the podium than he is now. But then, does he have much of a choice?
I have no doubt that Preziosi and the team will make the bike into a winner. I would like to see Vale still be on it when that day comes and i believe he will do this. Dont write cals chances off just because its not very good today, as he says, his style suits it and it will keep getting better.( hope he is right) Things move on for every team and there is no guarantee that the Honda will be the correct bike for anyone next year.
Yamaha have got to be impressed with cal at the minute, so if he's moving on from tech 3 I think he'll get spies's bike and hit the ground running with a bike not too different from the one he's on
It's not so much a matter of being scared of it; you just have to put blind faith in it turning when there's absolutely no feedback from the tyres/chassis. That's something that the younger crop of riders are happy to do but is completely alien (no pun intended) to most older riders.... and VR hasn't got the inclination (or time!) to take that concept on board. There's definitely a twist n go mentality to not just Stoners' riding but Lorenzo & Pedrosa as well.....and I think that's why Stoner has had enough. If their crew tells them they can brake at point A, corner at a certain speed, and re-apply the throttle at point B, they just do it without caring that they aren't using their own instincts and reflexes until it goes wrong .... sadly MotoGP is following F1 in so much as rider input is getting less and less important to getting fast times! Rant over, back on subject - If Ducati need a complete loon to ride it 'til he wins (or falls off), then look no further than Ianone ......
Cal gets on a Ducati but can he develop it ? the might of Rossi and his team cant make it win ,i fear for him but he not got a lot of choice ,not a big name is he
Well if dovizioso, does want out of Tech3 as he's saying and goes with his statement "I must be in a factory team next year" It solves Cals problem...an all Brit team with Tech3, giving him the chance to get more experience before taking the Ducati gamble, that could finish his GP career before it really gets going. Dovi seams to have forgotten that Tech3 saved his career after being dropped by Honda, only to repay them by saying he can't compete for wins on their bike as its not fast enough.
He hasn't really got much in the way of bartering power has he? I hope he isn't just talking up his salary with idle threats, I hope he does move, but I can't see where he can go...Ducati? He dissed them last year....Honda? They released him from the team already....I hope he doesn't get the factory Yamaha ride. Cal needs to keep finishing in front of him to stake his claim to the factory M1
Money will be a factor here, and I don't necessarily mean salary but more personal sponsors... what can a rider bring to a team to help fund their ride is a big part of the equation in the current climate, factor in potential bike sales i.e. have a couple of Americans in the top class should boost sales. Plus Dorna will have a part to play as they want to ensure TV rights and bums on seats at the races, if there were no Brits for example you could imagine Silverstone's gates would be down, remember 2010 when Rossi broke his leg loads of people selling tickets cheap as that was the only reason they wanted to go.
What ever happens at Yamaha........ A yank will be on one of the 4 yams. (Lorenzo, Ginger Flop, Yank, ?? one seat left) Ianone tested the pramac ducati last winter with a possabilty to get the other ride... but pramac ran out of money .. hence 1 duke.
