Crutchlow concludes first Yamaha MotoGP test

Cal Crutchlow has concluded his two day test in Japan onboard the Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike he will campaign next season. The 24 year old flew to Yamaha’s head quarters at the start of the week where he was measured up for the bike before riding at the factory’s test track, Fukoroi on Wednesday and Thursday.

Unfortunately the test was hit by rain and a slowly drying track meant he only had very limited time on slick tyres, with the bulk of his laps coming on the Bridgestone wets.

Speaking to MCN from Japan, he said: “I got about ten laps on slick on the first day but some of the corners were still fully wet. In the dry the grip was incredible and even over the wet patches I could keep the throttle pinned and there was no movement. The bike feels really stiff and the corner speeds with the chassis and tyres are incredible.

“On the second day it was fully wet in the morning and in although it stopped raining later on it, there was no sun and with only two bikes going around the track didn’t dry.

“I completely wrecked a set of wets and the rear looked like a slick at the end of 30 laps but even then it was hardly out of line – the electronics on the bike are so advanced. With the Bridgestone’s you could get massive lean even in the rain.

“It’s obviously annoying that it wasn’t dry, but riding in the wet was ok, I felt comfortable and I enjoyed it. I’ve always been pretty happy in the wet so I think that helped. But I know that riding this bike in the dry will be completely different experience and I’ve got a hell of a lot to learn.”

For full insight into Crutchlow’s first test see MCN out Wednesday 27th October.