The three-time MotoGP race winner retired from racing on the finish of final season and joined Yamaha as its official test rider, with the Briton designated as one among its substitute riders.
With Franco Morbidelli out of motion till September’s Aragon Grand Prix on the earliest following knee surgical procedure in June, Crutchlow will ride the ‘A-spec’ Yamaha for this weekend’s Styrian GP, the Austrian GP and the British GP.
Crutchlow revealed he hasn’t ridden the Yamaha since a take a look at in April and wouldn’t be doing so once more till October after two outings at Motegi in Japan in June and July have been cancelled on account of COVID-19.
In consequence, Crutchlow felt this three-race stint was perfect to bridge that hole to his subsequent take a look at.
“Feels unusual as a result of I retired after which abruptly I’m again already,” Crutchlow stated on Thursday on the Purple Bull Ring.
“Yeah, it was a joint choice between me, Yamaha and Petronas SRT crew that I might come and race these three races.
“Sadly, Franco acquired injured and we hope he comes again quickly, there’s little doubt about that. I hope he comes again quickly.
“Principally, the state of affairs was they requested me to journey at Assen, however I used to be deliberate to go to some checks in Japan.
“Sadly, these acquired cancelled, so this may have meant too lengthy off the bike.
“I haven’t ridden in any respect any bike because the take a look at in April and now I’ll journey this weekend. Then I wouldn’t journey once more until October, so it’s too lengthy of a spot.”
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Manufacturing unit Racing
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Crutchlow additionally revealed that whereas he’s designated as a substitute rider, his contract states that he isn’t sure to creating these appearances.
“I can’t actually discuss contracts, however I’ve a substitute factor in my contract however I don’t need to do it,” he added.
“So, that is why additionally I didn’t do Assen. We thought it was greatest to not do Assen as a result of they referred to as on the Tuesday night time, they’d simply been to a race [in Germany].
“I used to be purported to go testing in Japan, so I stated ‘no, I don’t wish to do it, name [World Superbike riders] Toprak [Razgatlioglu] and Garrett [Gerloff].
“They usually did. So, I consider that was the precise state of affairs, however now with the three races the way in which they’re it’s not a foul time to do it, particularly with me not having the ability to take a look at I feel being energetic might be good.
“However I retired as a result of I didn’t wish to race as such, so now to be again racing is a joke.
“However I’ll embrace it, I sit up for it and we’ll see how I get on.”