![Cal Crutchlow race action shot]()
In a tersely worded press release,
Ducati announced Saturday it had “reached an agreement with its factory rider, Cal Crutchlow, to terminate, ahead of time, the contract that ties the British rider to the Italian team in MotoGP for the next season.”
Just two weeks ago at World Ducati Week in Misano, Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso were presented as Ducati’s 2015 factory MotoGP riders.
LCR Honda later furnished its own release, confirming the 29-year-old Crutchlow will join its team next year on a factory-spec
Honda RC213V—the same machine German Stefan Bradl is presently campaigning.
“We want to thank Cal for his trust in our 2015 racing project,” LCR CEO Lucio Cecchinello said. “In the meantime, we will keep working hard to end the current season in the best way.” Cecchinello also announced a new primary sponsor, online stock trader CWM FX. The team will be known as CWM-LCR Honda.
While Ducati noted in its release that the 2015 factory riders will now be Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone, currently on a Pramac Racing satellite Ducati, LCR did not say whether Bradl would be returning to what is presently a single-rider effort.
![Stefan Bradl race action shot]()
Taking the place of American Nicky Hayden, Crutchlow has thus far suffered through a miserable season on the Desmosedici, with four DNFs in eight starts. His best finish, sixth, came at the opening round of the championship in Qatar. Dovizioso has fared better, with two podium finishes. He is currently fourth in points, 10 spots ahead of Crutchlow.
After his brakes failed at Catalunya, Crutchlow said, “I have not finished any race without any problem this year. I’ve done everything I can with the team. They’re trying their hardest, as well, but the results are just not there. It’s a complete disaster. We need to go away and rethink what we’re doing for the rest of the year.”
Riding last season for
Yamaha Tech 3, Crutchlow had four podiums and completed the year fifth overall in points.
Now in his third MotoGP season, former Rookie of the Year Bradl has enjoyed better results, including two front-row starts and three top-five finishes. Yet even a strong second half of the year may not be enough to keep the 24-year-old on factory machinery in Grand Prix racing’s premier class.
In a tersely worded press release, Ducati announced Saturday it had “reached an agreement with its factory rider, Cal Crutchlow, to terminate, ahead of time, the contract that ties the British rider to the Italian team in MotoGP for the next season.”
Just two weeks ago at World Ducati Week in Misano, Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso were presented as Ducati’s 2015 factory MotoGP riders.
LCR Honda later furnished its own release, confirming the 29-year-old Crutchlow will join its team next year on a factory-spec Honda RC213V—the same machine German Stefan Bradl is presently campaigning.
“We want to thank Cal for his trust in our 2015 racing project,” LCR CEO Lucio Cecchinello said. “In the meantime, we will keep working hard to end the current season in the best way.” Cecchinello also announced a new primary sponsor, online stock trader CWM FX. The team will be known as CWM-LCR Honda.
While Ducati noted in its release that the 2015 factory riders will now be Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone, currently on a Pramac Racing satellite Ducati, LCR did not say whether Bradl would be returning to what is presently a single-rider effort.
Taking the place of American Nicky Hayden, Crutchlow has thus far suffered through a miserable season on the Desmosedici, with four DNFs in eight starts. His best finish, sixth, came at the opening round of the championship in Qatar. Dovizioso has fared better, with two podium finishes. He is currently fourth in points, 10 spots ahead of Crutchlow.
After his brakes failed at Catalunya, Crutchlow said, “I have not finished any race without any problem this year. I’ve done everything I can with the team. They’re trying their hardest, as well, but the results are just not there. It’s a complete disaster. We need to go away and rethink what we’re doing for the rest of the year.”
Riding last season for Yamaha Tech 3, Crutchlow had four podiums and completed the year fifth overall in points.
Now in his third MotoGP season, former Rookie of the Year Bradl has enjoyed better results, including two front-row starts and three top-five finishes. Yet even a strong second half of the year may not be enough to keep the 24-year-old on factory machinery in Grand Prix racing’s premier class.