Crutchlow can “make the difference” for Yamaha – Rossi
Valentino Rossi believes three-time MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow can “make the difference” for Yamaha in 2021 as its official test rider following the struggles of 2020.
Despite winning half of last year’s races, Yamaha failed to win any of the three championships on offer, with its 2020 M1 riders besieged by various issues with the bike which led to wildly inconsistent form.
After leading for much of the campaign, Fabio Quartararo faded to eighth in the standings over the final six rounds, while Maverick Vinales was sixth and Rossi 15th (though he did miss two rounds due to COVID-19).
Yamaha’s troubles weren’t aided by the lack of a test programme for Jorge Lorenzo, who only did four days on a 2019 M1 in February and October – its plans largely undone by COVID travel restrictions on its Japanese-based test crew.
For 2021, the marque has signed former Tech 3 Yamaha rider Crutchlow to spearhead its plans following his retirement from full-time racing, and will be in action across all days of this month’s Qatar testing – which started on Friday (below).
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Maverick Vinales, Yamaha Factory Racing, Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
When asked if Crutchlow could be the final piece of the puzzle to curing the inconsistency which plagued Yamaha last year and has done since 2016, Rossi said: “I think that Cal can make the difference, [he] can help Yamaha a lot. Also, I have a good relationship with Cal, so I’m very happy to work with him.
“It all depends on the motivation, because to be a test rider is not easy because for sure you have to find the motivation to push at the limit of the bike even if you don’t race. So, this will be not easy for Cal and I hope he arrives with a good motivation, with a good approach.
“He stopped this winter and he’s in a good shape, and this can make the difference I think. We expect a strong support from Cal because Cal is a MotoGP rider, so he stopped just last year.
“He’s in a good shape, he rode a long time for Honda, so he can give Yamaha some advice. I want to speak with him after his first touch with the M1.”
In an interview with Motorsport.com last year, Crutchlow noted he was the right candidate for the Yamaha test role as the marque needed a rider who wasn’t looking to use the opportunity as a springboard back onto the MotoGP grid in 2022.
Yamaha did come close to signing ex-Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso as its tester, but he elected to take a sabbatical in 2021 when the offer – and those of the other test roles tabled – didn’t keep the door open for a full-time racing return in 2022.
Crutchlow’s signing as Yamaha test rider enthused its other factory riders last November, with Maverick Vinales keen for the Briton to come on board as his directness in his feedback would better aid bike development.
Related video
Previous article
2021 MotoGP pre-season Yamaha's toughest – Vinales
Next article
Rookies react to first MotoGP outing in Qatar shakedown
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Valentino Rossi , Cal Crutchlow |
| Teams | Yamaha Factory Racing |
| Author | Lewis Duncan |
MotoGP 2021 kicks off in Qatar
Mandalika Circuit update
MotoGP Starting Grid: Doha Grand Prix
MotoGP Starting Grid: Qatar Grand Prix
Top 10 most successful Repsol Honda Team riders
Where does Espargaro sit ahead of Marquez's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice.
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon Prime series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
The key changes behind the latest 'return of the Mack'
Maverick Vinales’s authoritative victory at the MotoGP season opener came during a period of personal and professional change for the Yamaha rider. Can it be the springboard for a title challenge?
Why Lorenzo needs to ditch social media and enjoy retirement
OPINION: Jorge Lorenzo's status as one of the greatest MotoGP riders of all time is hard to dispute. But his constant social media spats with fellow riders and insistence on listing his achievements to his detractors are running the risk of tarnishing a legacy he worked hard to create.
Can leaving a factory team end Rossi’s MotoGP win drought?
It is over three-and-a-half years since the Italian national anthem rang out to declare a Valentino Rossi victory in MotoGP. To some onlookers his move out of the factory Yamaha squad meant the 2017 Dutch TT could remain his final win, but after an encouraging transition at Petronas SRT hope is far from lost
