Crutchlow: Lorenzo’s talent doesn’t make him a great MotoGP tester
Cal Crutchlow says Jorge Lorenzo’s MotoGP talent and title success “doesn’t mean he’s a great test rider”, in response to comments the Spaniard made on social media recently.
Crutchlow will step down from a full-time racing career in MotoGP after this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix and will join Yamaha as its official test rider.
The outgoing LCR rider replaces triple MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo in the role, which the Spaniard took on after announcing his retirement from racing last year. But, largely due to COVID-19, Lorenzo only had four days on the Yamaha in 2020 and all of them on the 2019 bike – with his last test at the Algarve Circuit ending with him some four seconds off the pace.
In the wake of Crutchlow’s test role announcement with Yamaha, Lorenzo responded to a comment on social media saying “it’s like exchanging gold for bronze”.
But Crutchlow wasn’t fazed by these comments when asked for his response on Friday, stating: “I don’t really have anything to say to him. At the end of the day, he feels the way he feels.
“I fully respect him as a racer, five-times world champion. He will tell you a lot he’s five-times world champion, but he’s incredible as a racer and he’s very, very special on the bike.
“But that doesn’t mean he’s a great test rider. It’s as simple as that. I think you have to take some things he says with a pinch of salt and get on, so I’m sure it’s affected him more than it’s affected me.
“What he said, I can take it, but taking things with a pinch of salt with what he says because it comes from a guy that walks around telling people things all the time.
“At the end of the day, it’s no skin off my back.
“I’m happy, I’m happy that I have things to do, I have a family, I have happiness, I have friends. Obviously, he’s just bored at home.”
Crutchlow opened up his Portuguese GP weekend and his final one as a competitive racer in 14th on the combined time sheets after Friday practice, though only just over half a second off the best pace of Avintia’s Johann Zarco.
The LCR rider is one of a handful of riders on the grid with racing experience at the Algarve, having competed there in his World Supersport days.
Share Or Save This Story
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo's partnership cools down after early enthusiasm
How Jorge Lorenzo is pushing Maverick Vinales beyond his limits in MotoGP
Jorge Lorenzo: “Maverick Vinales has more talent and speed than Pedro Acosta”
Honda gets extra F1 power unit help after FIA tweaks cost cap rules
WRC Portugal: Hyundai on top as overnight leader Oliver Solberg loses time
Carlos Sainz: Miami-spec Williams is the F1 car we should’ve had from opening race
The 10 best GT3 cars since group debut in 2006
The uncomfortable questions posed by Marc Marquez’s recent MotoGP form
Five things we learned from MotoGP’s Spanish GP
Can Ducati end Aprilia's MotoGP winning streak at the Spanish GP?
Did MotoGP make its Brazil return too soon?
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments