MotoGP – Crutchlow’s retirement at the end of 2020, a good plan for Zarco? –

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Crutchlow’s retirement at the end of 2020, a good plan for Zarco ?

MotoGP - Crutchlow's retirement at the end of 2020, a good plan for Zarco? -

Bruised by numerous falls, Cal Crutchlow is seriously considering not extending his contract with Honda LCR … A track to be exploited by Johann Zarco, ready to do anything to bounce back since his break with KTM ? Musical saddles…

"I want to do normal things like take my daughter to school, play and run with her. I also want to walk straight and that’s not possible at the moment because my body is hurting," Cal Crutchlow blurted out with the franchise that characterizes it…

  • MNC special file :

At almost 34 years old (October 29), the native of Coventry wonders about the rest of his career and plans not to renew his contract with Honda. In question: the pain of past injuries, the desire to enjoy life and the observation of a declining speed. This last point, according to him, is partly the result of his 2019 RCV, of which he does not like the front axle or the engine brake management..

"I’m not as fast as before," he admits. "I am in the race, but I am not so much in qualifying. And I can’t understand why because I think I am a better driver. I always try to push my limits as much as possible, but maybe be that it comes from the combination between the bike and me "…

The result: Crutchlow often makes mistakes and fails to fulfill the ambitions associated with his three MotoGP victories (two in 2016, one in 2018). After twelve races, this strong-mouthed character is only ninth in the 2019 provisional on his bike, however directly supported by the HRC, with only two podiums and already three white results (Americas, Catalonia and Austria).

"I gave everything but it’s not enough to win the MotoGP title"

The former Supersport world champion – already in 2009! – would also like to have "a somewhat normal life" and to take more advantage of her, which has just celebrated her three years … To this questioning is added the reality of a pain literally ankle deep in the body since her last big fall, occurred during the second practice session of the 2018 Australian GP.

MotoGP - Crutchlow's retirement at the end of 2020, a good plan for Zarco? -

Badly injured in the right ankle, the n ° 35 had missed the end of the season and spent long months between different hospitals and rehabilitation centers to suffer martyrdom. "I thought I would never be able to ride again", he confided on his return to the handlebars during the winter tests in February…. 

Honestly, Crutchlow also believes that he has already given "absolutely everything to [his] sport" but that his efforts are "not enough to win a MotoGP title or be ahead every week, and I accept that". Terrible admission for a pilot of this caliber, who however says to have "appreciated [his] career", even if he would add well "a few podiums here and there" !

It should be noted that English is not the type to complain: he enjoys exceptional physical condition, directly linked to his consuming passion for road cycling. The Honda-LCR rider is a tough guy and recently proved it by climbing the podium in Germany despite a ! 

Crutchlow out, Zarco in ?!

This possible retirement from Crutchlow at the end of 2020 opens up prospects for Johann Zarco, who has been exploring all avenues since his resounding break with KTM after only six months of collaboration! Including the possibility of becoming a test driver next year, to then bounce back in 2021 on a good MotoGP … like that of Crutchlow ?!

  • MNC of August 12, 2019 : Zarco and KTM in MotoGP, it’s over…
  • MNC of May 3, 2018 :
  • MNC of May 4, 2018 :

Because as incredible as it may seem, the French would indeed have ended his two-year contract with KTM without having prepared an alternative for the following season: in other words, the beginner of the year 2017 – author of six podiums for its first two seasons – is currently without handlebars for 2020 !

"Before leaving KTM, the best way to do it would have been to work in secret and try to find another possibility, but I did not do that", assures the n ° 5 who waited to feel "at the worse "and no longer able to" sleep at night "to make his irrevocable – and painful – decision.

The rest is known: Johann Zarco requests an interview with his employer after qualifying for the Austrian GP to announce – to the general surprise of his team and his manager Jean-Michel Bayle – his inability to continue the project, failing to succeed to adapt to the restive RC16.

"He then sat down in front of us, really tense and with tears in his eyes, saying that he could not stand it any longer and that he wanted to end his contract", said the boss of the KTM sports department , Pit Beirer, both troubled and moved by the process: "his decision was firm and clear, but in reality so sad"…

What options for Johann Zarco ?

The emotion passed, Johann must now ensure his rear and at this stage only considers two main avenues: a return to Moto2 or a test pilot position, replacing Jonas Folger, for example, who does not seem to flourish. within the new European "test team" set up by Yamaha.

MotoGP - Crutchlow's retirement at the end of 2020, a good plan for Zarco? -

"Coming back to Moto2 would not be a bad solution for the sporting aspect: with a good team, I would have the possibility to give the best of myself and I could aim for a world title which would help me to maintain myself at a very high level of performance, in the head and the body, and therefore to feel good ".

Assuring that a conversion to World Superbike would "not yet" be in his intentions, the teammate of Pol Espargaro said on the other hand to have made contacts to occupy a position of test driver. With for example a certain Eric de Seynes, who had his wish to renew the links between Zarco and Yamaha ?!

  • Zarco at KTM : Yamaha has not said its last word…

"I would do it as a test driver, not as a" retired "driver but as a guy who is hungry to come back", for his part warns the n ° 5, who would also have in this case in sight the Yamaha of Quartararo, tipped to replace Rossi or Viñales in 2021 !

MotoGP - Crutchlow's retirement at the end of 2020, a good plan for Zarco? -

However, there remains the very real risk of leaving the MotoGP universe by the more or less small door, without any guarantee of again interesting a team in the premier category: "it is very easy to be excluded from the business", warns in particular Rossi, who also experienced doubt and disillusionment for the same reasons at Ducati in 2011 and 2012.

“Several times I thought about quitting everything with Ducati,” admits the Doctor, “but in the end it was a good decision not to give up”. In MNC’s memory, the last rider to have broken a contract in MotoGP is precisely Cal Crutchlow: the Englishman left Ducati at the end of 2014 after only one season … but with an offer from Honda-LCR opposite !

And why not Lorenzo’s Honda in 2020 ?!

Last scenario a little crazy: Johann Zarco will succeed Jorge Lorenzo on the official Honda next season! The sluggish return of the Mallorcan in Great Britain and his early termination of (Italy) indeed revives the rumor of a breach of contract between Lorenzo and the HRC at the end of the season.

The circle would then come full circle for Johann, on whom the HRC was eyeing at the end of 2018 before learning his signature at KTM! So many assumptions that it is for the moment difficult to confirm, as the stakes are high and the mouths relatively sewn … Tongs imperative to taste them !

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