Cal Crutchlow isn't wasting anytime to start preparing for his switch to the MotoGP. Crutchlow just wrapped up his World Superbike season, but he's already doing testing with Yamaha's M1 motorcycle.
Crutchlow finished fifth in the World Superbike series this year for the Yamaha Sterilgarda team, and was awarded the “Rookie of the Year” award. But Crutchlow is now ready for a new challenge, and will be stepping up to the MotoGP class next year.
Crutchlow did a day and a half of testing on the YZR-M1 at the track in Fukuroi, Japan. Mixed weather made it a difficult testing session, but both Yamaha and Crutchlow were excited about the new partnership.
“The M1 felt a lot smaller than my Yamaha R1 Superbike,” said Cal Crutchlow. “I actually found the positioning more comfortable than the WSB machine. There is a lot of power but it feels very useable, it felt very different to a production based machine in terms of its delivery. In the wet we used the normal steel brakes but when it started to dry I had a chance to try the carbon ones which were cool, I managed to get quite comfortable with them. I found the chassis very stiff, it was really easy to change direction and the electronics were really different, even more advanced than the high level I’m used to in Superbike! It was a shame the weather wasn’t great so I wasn’t able to push to the bike’s full potential. I’m really looking forward to the Valencia test so I can get back on it and give it a proper work out!”
Crutchlow will get another chance to ride the M1 on November 9th, when he does testing with the Yamaha team in Valencia. Next year, Crutchlow will be joining Colin Edwards on the Yamaha Monster Tech3 team in the MotoGP.
