Crutchlow: I plan on racing next season

Cal Crutchlow has confirmed he doesn’t intend to retire from MotoGP at the end of 2020 and remains in discussions with his LCR Honda team and HRC about a future deal.

Previously, Crutchlow has openly spoken about considering retirement, potentially as soon as the end of this season, if the situation suited his plans.

But during the ongoing 2020 MotoGP season postponements caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Crutchlow has been given time to reflect on his career as well as his future.

As a result, the three-time MotoGP race winner says he plans on racing into 2021 and remains motivated for the future having held initial discussions with LCR Honda and HRC.

“I plan on racing again next season and I plan to be competitive again. I still love what I do and am still very motivated, that’s all I can say at the moment,” Crutchlow told Crash.net in an exclusive interview which will be released on Monday.

Currently, only Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales (both factory Yamaha deals), Marc Marquez at Repsol Honda and Tito Rabat at Avintia Ducati have contracts beyond the end of the 2020 MotoGP season, while Valentino Rossi has been offered a factory-specification M1 and a spot at Petronas Yamaha for 2021. Crutchlow’s existing HRC deal expires at the end of the 2020.

With no MotoGP action until at least the end of June, with Sachsenring provisionally set to host the premier class opener on June 21 which remains subject to Dorna chiefs reshuffling the race calendar, series organisers are considering all options to get the season started including racing without spectators.

Crutchlow feels the priority must be on battling the coronavirus crisis before any plans for the MotoGP season are put in place and feels racing behind closed doors wouldn’t be a situation any of the riders or teams would opt for.

“As racers we love to race in front of fans, it’s the ambience and atmosphere they generate which makes it worthwhile for us,” he explained. “In the end we are in the entertainment business so racing without anyone there would not be what any of the teams, riders or fans would want.

“What is going on in the world at the moment is a very sad thing and I hope it can be better for everyone soon.

“The most important thing is people’s health and I know MotoGP, Dorna, Fim, and IRTA are doing a great job trying to make it possible for us to get racing again as soon as we can. We can only take the government’s advice and decisions and accept them and that’s the correct thing to do.

“For the time being I hope that everyone stays at home and respects what is being asked of them. The sooner we can understand how to stop this virus the sooner we can all enjoy pleasures like sport again.”

Crash.net’s full interview with Crutchlow will be released on Monday.