MotoGP: Crutchlow gives new Silverstone surface the seal of approval

LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow has given the new surface at Silverstone the seal of approval after getting the chance to take to the track on Monday for a media event. Lapping the home of the British Grand Prix on a Honda RC213V-S (the road-going version of his MotoGP machine) and with customer Michelin racing slicks fitted, he says that it’ll make a huge improvement come August’s race.

“They’ve done a great job and I’m not just saying that because I’m at Silverstone and because I’m a British rider, because they’ve done a really good job of it. We’re hard to please as riders and we always want the track in the best possible shape, and they’ve done that. There were a few places with a few bumps, but they’ve taken it back up and re-laid it there, and you can’t even tell.

“There were a lot of surface changes before and now it’s one piece of asphalt, and I was impressed with that. First and foremost, to lay it in the middle of winter was impressive too, and I’m looking forward to a good British Grand Prix on it. When there’s some rubber down on it and if we get the weather, it’ll be a second and a half faster, which is a big amount on a MotoGP bike.”

The Silverstone team completed a full-track resurfacing especially for MotoGP over the winter months. Spending seven figures on the project, they’ve been keen to stress since that it comes as part of a longer-term commitment to keeping MotoGP at the track.