Cal Crutchlow warns Bradley Smith ahead of MotoGP debut

Cal Crutchlow has warned new Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate Bradley Smith not to make the same mistake he did in 2011 by pushing too hard too soon in his rookie MotoGP campaign.

Smith will make his YZR-M1 debut next Tuesday when preparations for the 2013 MotoGP campaign get underway in Valencia.

And Crutchlow said he spoke to the 21-year-old to take his time in adapting to the heavier and more powerful MotoGP machine.

Crutchlow, who heads into this weekend’s final round in Valencia seeking a third podium in an outstanding second season in MotoGP, said: “No doubt it is going to be difficult for any of the guys coming up from Moto2 to be strong straightaway.

“People can’t expect miracles from any of them coming in but no doubt they are going to be fast. It is a great opportunity for Bradley and hopefully he will take it with both hands.

“The first thing I said to him was take it steady. Nobody is going to come in and win immediately. He’ll need to take his time and that’s probably one of the things that I learned in my first year.

“I didn’t take my time and I just landed on my head. You have to build up and normally the second year is a lot better.”

Crutchlow has an outside chance of overhauling Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista for fifth place in Sunday’s race.

But he said it was positive to be heading into the final round on the back of a morale-boosting third in Australia after non-finishes in Japan and Malaysia.

The 27-year-old added: “It is nice to come to Valencia off a good result at Phillip Island and I’m looking forward to it. The top three in the championship have got the pressure off and they will be gunning for the final race win of the year.

“I never expected in Phillip Island to be on the podium, so if I don’t expect it again here then maybe it will happen again on Sunday afternoon.”