Cal Crutchlow signs for factory Yamaha in World Supersport

Current HM Plant Honda rider Cal Crutchlow will leave BSB at the end of the season to join the factory Yamaha World Supersport team in 2009.

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The 23-year-old Brit will line up alongside the former World Supersport Champion Fabien Foret in the official Yamaha team as a replacement for Australian Broc Parkes after signing a multi year deal that will take him to WSB in 2010 depending on results.

Speaking exclusively to MCN, Cal Crutchlow said:

“To go to the World Championship with Yamaha is a privilege. They are one of the top teams in the class and to be involved with the Yamaha factory is an honour and it’s going to be a great experience for me.

“It was a tough decision to leave HM Plant Honda in the UK but I felt I had to get to the World Championship next year and that wasn’t really possible with my current team.”

Crutchlow is no stranger to riding a 600cc Supersport machine having won the 2006 British Supersport Championship ahead of Tom Sykes, Eugene Laverty and Leon Camier. And after two years on a Superbike is looking forward to getting back on to one of the latest 600’s.

“I’ve enjoyed riding a Superbike and ultimately that’s where I want to be, but I enjoy riding in Supersport and in a way they are more fun to race. I’m looking forward to it and hopefully I can go there and do as well as Jonathan (Rea) and what Craig (Jones) was doing.”

Crutchlow has also been encouraged by Eugene Laverty’s performance at Vallelunga last weekend. Laverty claimed third place for the Yamaha squad that Crutchlow has just signed for in only his second appearance for the team.

“I know the team is competitive. Eugene hasn’t had the best year and he went out and rode really well to get on the podium. If I can go to the team having had a half decent year in BSB, with testing under my belt and hit the ground running next year I think we can be fighting at the front.”

Crutchlow will get his first ride on the bike at the beginning of November at the new Portimao circuit in Portugal.