Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

The data behind Russell’s engine software issue that caused his Hungarian GP slow start

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
The data behind Russell’s engine software issue that caused his Hungarian GP slow start

United Formula Ford battles add European flavour to USA Snetterton 300 event

National
United Formula Ford battles add European flavour to USA Snetterton 300 event

Red Bull appoints Lagrue as junior driver chief after Mercedes F1 exit

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Red Bull appoints Lagrue as junior driver chief after Mercedes F1 exit

Dome-led group launches bid to build next Super Formula car

Super Formula
Dome-led group launches bid to build next Super Formula car

Mini masters put on another entertaining show at Thruxton

National
Mini masters put on another entertaining show at Thruxton

How Sutton scorched rivals to extend BTCC lead at Thruxton

Feature
BTCC
Thruxton
How Sutton scorched rivals to extend BTCC lead at Thruxton

Norris: I was better than Piastri in every sense in battle for Hungarian GP victory

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Norris: I was better than Piastri in every sense in battle for Hungarian GP victory

Ogier to reunite with WRC champion co-driver for Rally Finland

WRC
Rally Finland
Ogier to reunite with WRC champion co-driver for Rally Finland

Crutchlow: 2020 Honda MotoGP bike is not easier to ride

LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow admits the 2020 prototype RC213V he tested in the post-Valencia MotoGP test is no easier to ride currently than its much-criticised predecessor

Crutchlow was very vocal about the '19 RC213V's difficulty in turning all through this year, with the LCR rider only managing three podiums in 19 races having won a race in '18.

Marc Marquez has been the only rider to extract consistent frontrunning performance from the bike on his way to the '19 MotoGP title.

Having spent the two days in Valencia comparing the '19 and '20 bikes, Crutchlow says steps have been made "in some areas", but the bike is still incredibly difficult to ride.

"We have to be positive with the bike that they brought us, we have to be positive that they made a step in some areas," Crutchlow, who was fourth in the test, said.

"I feel a little bit more comfortable and confident on the bike, but as far as the bike is concerned with regards to it being easier to ride, it is not.

"We need to still improve that over the winter and hopefully they can.

"On a general feeling, I managed to go faster than I did all weekend and this has to be a positive thing on a bike that's solely done two days here in Valencia.

"I didn't try my race weekend bike today [Wednesday] particularly.

"I did one run at the end of the day and I am sure I could have gone faster with that as well, but the information is what we need is the 2020 bike."

Marquez - who was seventh at the end of testing - echoed Crutchlow's comments on the rideability of the '20 bike, adding: "The character [of the bike] is more or less similar.

"I just concentrated a lot with the prototype because I believe that has potential but still everything is very new.

"Still we need to modify a few things.

"I did my best laptime with the prototype, and just I kept working with that bike.

"Again, I took the current bike and I was fast too. But still many things are new and lucky for us we are in Valencia.

"And like this, on the race pace we were not bad."

Previous article Valencia MotoGP testing: Yamaha's Vinales fastest on second day
Next article Espargaro "shocked" to match Marquez on new KTM MotoGP chassis

Top Comments

Latest news