Cal Crutchlow

Cal Crutchlow
Crutchlow, during an autograph session at the 2015 Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas
Nationality	British
Born	(1985-10-29) 29 October 1985 Coventry, West Midlands, England
Current team	LCR Honda
Bike number	35
Website	calcrutchlow.com
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2011–present Manufacturers Yamaha (2011–2013) Ducati (2014) Honda (2015) Championships 0 2016 championship position 7th (141 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 105 2 12 3 4 749 Superbike World Championship Active years 2008, 2010 Manufacturers Honda, Yamaha Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 30 3 11 6 8 311 Supersport World Championship Active years 2005–2006, 2009 Manufacturers Honda, Yamaha Championships 1 2009 championship position 1st (243 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 17 5 10 10 9 260

Cal Crutchlow (born 29 October 1985) is a British professional motorcycle road racer, who currently competes in the MotoGP World Championship for CWM LCR Honda.

He started his career as a superbike rider. He was the 2006 British Supersport Championship champion and the 2009 Supersport World Championship winner with Yamaha. He also won races in the British Superbike Championship – finishing 3rd in 2008 – and in the Superbike World Championship, finishing 5th in 2010.

Since 2011, Crutchlow has competed in the MotoGP World Championship. He joined the Tech 3 satellite team, riding a Yamaha, achieving six podium finishes over three seasons, between 2011 and 2013. In 2014, Crutchlow joined the factory Ducati team on a two-year contract from 2014. However, after just one season with the team – with one podium finish, and lying fourteenth in the riders' championship – Crutchlow terminated his contract to join CWM LCR Honda for the 2015 season, riding a factory Honda.

Career

Early years

Born in Coventry, England, he was named Cal after the American motorcycle racer Cal Rayborn.^[1] Although his father Derek was a racer, he did not become interested in the sport himself until age 11. As of 2007 he did not hold a motorcycle licence for the road.^[2] He had football trials with Coventry City and Aston Villa as a youth, but after a knee injury chose to concentrate on motorcycle racing.^[3]

Crutchlow won the UK Junior Challenge in 1999, and the Aprilia RS125 Challenge in 2001.^[4] He was runner-up in the 2003 Yamaha R6 Cup behind Tommy Hill, who earned a factory sponsored ride in the British Superbike series for this achievement.

He won the British Supersport Championship in 2006, after a 3-year stint in the series in which he finished 3rd in 2005.^[5]

British Superbike Championship (2007–2008)

Crutchlow riding for Honda in the 2008 British Superbike Championship

For 2007 he made his debut in the prestigious British Superbike Championship, with the Rizla Suzuki team alongside four-time runner-up Chris Walker. He took pole at Croft,^[6] and finished 9th overall after finishing the season with his first podium, third at Brands Hatch. For 2008 he moved to HM Plant Honda, sponsored by CIA Insurance.^[7] He took his first series win in race 2 at Thruxton.^[8] He took pole for round 3 at Oulton Park – he led race 1 before running wide in damp conditions,^[9] and crashed heavily out of 2nd place in race 2, injuring his ankle in the process.^[10] After initially having the better of team-mate Leon Haslam, Crutchlow was ultimately outpointed by him. He took two wins in the season, and finished 3rd overall in the championship, beating Tom Sykes by two points after the Yorkshireman had a late mechanical failure in the final round.

Supersport World Championship (2009)

On 23 September 2008, it was confirmed that Crutchlow had signed a deal to ride for the Wilco Zeelenberg-managed Yamaha factory team in the 2009 World Supersport Championship.^[11] He finished in the top four at every race until a mechanical failure while leading at Brno, and found himself in a two-way championship dice with surprise package Eugene Laverty on a Parkalgar Honda. Crutchlow lead the championship until a gearbox failure while leading at Imola meant that Eugene Laverty moved to within 3 points.^[12] However, at Magny-Cours after an intense start Laverty crashed, but picked his bike back up to leave him 19 points behind Crutchlow with 1 race at Portimão left.^[13] Laverty won in Portugal, but a fourth place by Crutchlow was enough to secure him the 2009 championship.

Superbike World Championship (2010)

Crutchlow took his first World Superbike race wins at the Silverstone round in 2010.

On 1 October 2009 Yamaha announced that Crutchlow would make the move from World Supersport to the Superbike World Championship in 2010. His teammate was former world champion James Toseland, who rejoined the Superbike World Championship after losing his place in MotoGP.^[14] He took his first series pole at his second meeting, at Portimão, but did not win either race. He stoked controversy after the first race there by mentioning in an interview that he was well clear of Toseland when he crashed out, but insists that he is not arrogant.^[15] Toseland later pointed out that Crutchlow's tendency to speak his mind means that not everybody can get on with him.^[16] Crutchlow took his first two World Superbike wins at Silverstone, after battling with Ten Kate Racing rider Jonathan Rea, and as a result climbed from tenth to fifth in the standings.^[17]

MotoGP (2011–)

Tech 3 (2011–2013)

2011

Crutchlow at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.

It was officially announced on 5 September 2010 that Crutchlow would join Tech 3 for the 2011 MotoGP Championship.^[18] Crutchlow ended the season in 12th position in the championship, and sealed the Rookie of the Year Award after achieving his best result of the season – fourth place – in Valencia.^[19]

2012

After a successful period in the winter testing for the 2012 season, Crutchlow got off to a good start. In Losail, Crutchlow secured 3rd position on the starting grid, and went on to achieve 4th place ahead of team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, matching his previous best finish in Valencia last year. Following his first front-row qualifying, his father lost a bet with Wilco Zeelenberg and had to shave off his 40-year-old moustache.

Crutchlow again suffered disappointment at Silverstone during practice for the British Grand Prix when he crashed at Chapel Corner. Early x-rays showed no break to his ankle, however it was clear Crutchlow was in considerable pain. Further examination showed a broken and dislocated left ankle, and raised questions over Crutchlow's participation in the race.^[20] He was given the all clear by doctors, and passed a fitness test at the circuit. Starting at the back of the grid, Crutchlow raced with characteristic determination, and finished in a highly commendable 6th place.

Overall Crutchlow had a very positive season, finishing seventh in the championship, running consistently within the top-five riders and obtaining two podium finishes – third place on both occasions – in the Czech Republic and in Australia.^[21]

2013

Crutchlow battling with Valentino Rossi at the 2013 French Grand Prix, where he finished second

After another positive season, Crutchlow finished fifth in the championship with 188 points. He obtained four podium finishes, with second places in France^[22] and Germany,^[23] and third places in Italy^[24] and the Netherlands.^[25] He also achieved the first pole position of his career at Assen. Crutchlow battled consistently among the second group of riders, along with Andrea Dovizioso, Stefan Bradl and Álvaro Bautista.

Ducati (2014)

On 2 August 2013 it was announced that Crutchlow had signed a two-year deal with the factory Ducati team, to partner Andrea Dovizioso.^[26] The beginning of his season was plagued with issues. A malfunctioning transponder caused the electronics of his Ducati Desmosedici to behave strangely during the first race in Qatar, where he finished in sixth place.^[27] He experienced tyre issues and later crashed out of the race in Austin.^[28] In the crash he suffered a hand injury, causing him to miss the Argentine Grand Prix and thus missing a championship race for the first time in his career.^[29] He returned in Jerez, but he was forced to retire after three laps, having experienced problems with the brakes.^[30]

On 2 August 2014, exactly a year after joining the team, it was announced that Crutchlow was leaving Ducati.^[31] Later the same day, it was announced that Crutchlow had signed for LCR Honda for the 2015 season, riding the factory-specification RC213V,^[32] replacing Stefan Bradl. He achieved his first podium with Ducati in Aragon, finishing in third place.^[33]

Team LCR (2015–)

2015

Crutchlow at the 2015 Catalan Grand Prix

Crutchlow started the 2015 season with CWM-LCR Honda by taking seventh-place finishes in Qatar and Austin.^[34] He then achieved his first podium with the team, with a third-place result in Argentina after a last-lap pass on Andrea Iannone.^[35] In the process, Crutchlow achieved LCR's first podium since Stefan Bradl finished second at the 2013 United States Grand Prix.^[36] Crutchlow retired from each of the next three races on the calendar, in France, Italy and Catalunya,^[37] before a sixth-place finish in the Netherlands and adding a seventh-place finish in Germany.^[38] Crutchlow finished eighth in the championship.

2016

Crutchlow won his first race at the wet 2016 Czech Republic GP. This win ended a 35-year dry spell as the last win by a British rider in the top flight was Barry Sheene at the 1981 Swedish Grand Prix. He also won the Australian GP, his first dry win. He became the first Briton ever to win the Australian Grand Prix.

Personal life

Cal Crutchlow lives in Ramsey, Isle of Man. He is married to Lucy Heron, with the wedding occurring January 2014.^[39] Cal announced on Twitter that he and Lucy welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Willow, on the 2nd of August 2016. Crutchlow has ridden several exhibition laps around the world-famous Isle of Man TT Course. He is also a fan of Manchester United.

Career statistics

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

All time

Yearly breakdown

British Supersport Championship

• Both Easton and Cal Crutchlow finished on 161 thus sharing 3rd place.

British Superbike Championship

World Supersport Championship

World Superbike Championship

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

By class

Races by year

(key)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cal Crutchlow.

• Profile on MotoGP.com
• Profile on WorldSBK.com

LCR Honda MotoGP
Cal Crutchlow (35)
Grand Prix motorcycle Honda RC213V